Equipment and Water Minister Nizar Baraka said on Friday that the development model rolled out in Morocco’s Southern provinces a decade ago under the leadership of King Mohammed VI has become “an achieved reality,” exceeding the ambitions set at its launch.
Speaking at a ministerial plenary during the 5th MD Sahara Forum, held under the theme “Moroccan Sahara: 50 Years of Integration, Transformation and Territorial Governance,” Baraka noted that this year’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Green March coincides with unprecedented momentum, particularly reflected in UN Security Council Resolution 2797.
Baraka recalled that the development model, designed in 2015 while he chaired the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), relied on a participatory approach involving elected officials, civil society, and local stakeholders. This framework, he said, enabled the launch of major structural projects that have significantly reshaped the region.
He highlighted the Royal Initiative for the Atlantic, which aims to position Dakhla and El Guerguerat as a strategic gateway to sub-Saharan Africa and a driver of prosperity, stability, and regional cooperation.
Among the flagship projects, the minister cited the 1,055 km Tiznit–Dakhla expressway, completed last January, and the launch of the dual carriageway to El Guerguerat, expected to become a major pan-African transport axis.
Baraka also announced that construction of the Dakhla Atlantique port has reached 50% completion, with commissioning scheduled for 2028. The port will feature an energy terminal dedicated particularly to green hydrogen exports, alongside an industrial hub and large logistics areas designed to meet strong national and international demand.
On water resources, the minister described the Dakhla basin as a “test ground” for water challenges, combining fossil and renewable aquifers, structural water stress, and innovative responses. He underlined progress in mobilizing surface water, competitive wind-powered desalination, irrigation of 5,200 hectares, and the reuse of treated wastewater. He also noted that a groundwater contract is being prepared to ensure the sustainable management of water resources.
The 5th MD Sahara Forum opened on Friday in Dakhla under the theme “50 Years of the Green March: National Unity and Continental Ambition.” The two-day event brings together government officials, economic operators, academics, and representatives of regional and international organizations to exchange ideas and explore future prospects for the region.
