Western Sahara focuses on boosting its tourism sector
Dakhla Bay: A Crossroads of History and Development Amidst Territorial Conflict
Dakhla Bay, located in the Western Sahara, south of Morocco, is a region steeped in history and embroiled in a complex territorial conflict. This coastal area, with its pristine waters and sandy shores, has been a hub for trade since Neolithic times and continues to be a focal point of strategic investments by Morocco.
Historical Background
The bay was first documented by the Portuguese in 1346, though they mistook it for a more southern area known as Río de Oro. The coastal region was inhabited by various groups from prehistoric times and was linked to Mediterranean trade by the 4th century BCE. By medieval times, it was primarily occupied by Berber (Ṣanhajāh Amazigh) peoples and later Arab Muslim Bedouins. European penetration began in earnest only in the 19th century, with Spanish claims formalized in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Territorial Conflict and Integration into Morocco
Western Sahara, including the area around Dakhla Bay (Oued Eddahab province), has been a subject of territorial dispute since Spain's withdrawal. Morocco regained control over southern parts of Western Sahara—including Oued Eddahab—through the Green March in 1975 and subsequent actions, including earlier recovery of places like Tarfaya and Sidi Ifni. This annexation is a politically sensitive and ongoing conflict involving Sahrawi independence movements.
Recent Moroccan Investment and Development
Under King Mohammed VI, Dakhla has become a focus of major economic and social development investments by Morocco. The government has launched an extensive €8 billion development plan that includes construction of schools, hospitals, luxury hotels, desalination plants, and a flagship €1.2 billion Dakhla Atlantic Port. The aim is to integrate the region economically and socially into Morocco, boost tourism, and improve infrastructure.
Ongoing Issues
Despite development initiatives, Dakhla Bay remains at the center of the Western Sahara conflict, with sovereignty disputed by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and contested internationally. Moroccan investment is part of a contested state-building effort in the area.
Voices from the Community
A former Sahrawi fisherman expresses concern about the risk of depleting resources in Dakhla. Rachid Roussafi, a windsurfing champion, who was one of the first to discover and promote the bay of Dakhla, specifically mentions concerns about droughts, chickens, squid, and lobsters. He suggests taking the time to do studies and schedule fishing periods.
The population of the Dakhla region has grown from 140,000 to 220,000 in the past 10 years, with the bay of Dakhla becoming increasingly popular among kitesurfers, particularly French tourists.
The development plan, which includes schools, hospitals, large hotels, desalination plants, and the Dakhla-Atlantic port with a budget of 1.2 billion, is intended to ensure the socio-economic development of all the Southern Provinces.
The Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, has been claimed by Morocco and the independence fighters of the Polisario Front for half a century. The United Nations does not recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara, but more and more countries, including the United States and France, do. The Dakhla-Atlantic port is intended to make Dakhla a future hub and an intercontinental crossroads.
[1] Encyclopædia Britannica. (2021, August 23). Western Sahara. Retrieved September 17, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Western-Sahara
[2] BBC News. (2016, November 15). Morocco: Green March anniversary sparks controversy. Retrieved September 17, 2021, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37986256
[3] Morocco World News. (2021, February 17). Dakhla: The "Spearhead" of Development in the Moroccan-Controlled Sahara. Retrieved September 17, 2021, from https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2021/02/301355/dakhla-the-spearhead-of-development-in-the-moroccan-controlled-sahara/
[4] Morocco World News. (2021, February 24). Dakhla Atlantic Port: A Gateway to the World. Retrieved September 17, 2021, from https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2021/02/301434/dakhla-atlantic-port-a-gateway-to-the-world/
[5] The North Africa Journal. (2021, June 23). Morocco's Dakhla Development Plan: A €8 Billion Investment. Retrieved September 17, 2021, from https://thenorthafricajournal.com/moroccos-dakhla-development-plan-a-8-billion-investment/
Travelers exploring the rich history of Dakhla Bay might be interested in experiencing the unique French lifestyle that has emerged in the region, given the increasing number of French tourists, particularly kitesurfers, who have made the bay of Dakhla their destination. The development plan, with its focus on building schools, hospitals, hotels, and infrastructure, aims to integrate the region more closely with Morocco, potentially influencing the local lifestyle in the future.
