Morocco is deepening its administrative and security hold over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, even as it cultivates a growing tourism sector designed to project normalcy and attract foreign investment. The strategy, analysts say, seeks to entrench Moroccan sovereignty over a region that remains a source of tension with neighbouring Algeria and the Polisario Front independence movement.
Since the collapse of a UN-brokered ceasefire in November 2020, Moroccan forces have expanded their presence along the sand wall that separates areas under their control from Polisario-held zones. Construction of new military outposts and road networks has accelerated, while civilian infrastructure, including desalination plants and solar farms, is being built to support settlements.
Government figures show a 15% increase in tourist arrivals to Laayoune and Dakhla in the past year, with direct flights now operating from Casablanca, Paris, and Madrid. Hotels and resorts are springing up, marketed as gateways to Atlantic beaches and kitesurfing. But visitors must navigate checkpoints and military convoys. Tour operators are required to obtain permits that implicitly recognise Moroccan administration.
In September, the Moroccan government approved a $1.2bn development plan for Western Sahara provinces, including a new hospital in Laayoune and a fishing port in Dakhla. Officials frame this as economic empowerment, but critics see it as a bid to reshape demographics and stifle independence claims.
The Polisario Front, which advocates for Sahrawi self-determination, has condemned the tourism push as a public relations exercise. "They want to show the world that the region is peaceful and thriving, but it remains an occupied territory," said Mohamed Sidati, a Polisario representative. The movement continues to launch sporadic attacks on Moroccan positions, though these rarely affect civilian areas.
International reaction remains divided. The United States recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020, a decision reversed by the Biden administration pending a UN-led solution. The European Court of Justice annulled EU fisheries agreements with Morocco covering Western Sahara waters in 2021, though the bloc continues to cooperate on trade. Algeria, which backs the Polisario, severed diplomatic ties with Morocco in August 2021, citing hostile acts and Western Sahara policy.
Morocco shows no sign of relenting. Recent infrastructure projects include a new airport terminal in Dakhla and a road linking the city to the Mauritanian border. The government has also launched a media campaign featuring Sahrawi health workers and teachers trained in Moroccan universities, reinforcing a narrative of integration.
Human rights groups have documented increased surveillance of journalists and activists in Western Sahara. Reporters Without Borders ranks Morocco 129th out of 180 countries for press freedom, a drop of five places this year. The group notes that coverage of Sahrawi issues is particularly restricted.
The United Nations maintains a peacekeeping mission, MINURSO, which has been monitoring the ceasefire since 1991. But restrictions on its freedom of movement have grown since the 2020 breakdown, limiting its ability to verify troop positions. The Security Council has repeatedly extended MINURSO's mandate, most recently in October 2023, but without calls for a return to negotiations.
For now, Morocco remains in control, projecting stability and development. But the underlying conflict is unresolved. As one Western diplomat put it: "The tourism brochures show pristine beaches, not the watchtowers."
The road ahead will likely see continued investment and political isolation of the independence cause, unless a UN-led process can generate momentum. With Algeria and Morocco locked in a cold war, the stalemate seems set to persist, even as the sunbeds multiply.
