Sahara

1. The politics of
North Africa

2. Presentation plan
 Western Sahara background
 The key players
 A land full of opportunities for our project
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3. Background : a complex history
 A former Spanish territory (1884 –
1975)
 1975 : 2/3 to Morocco
1/3 to Mauritania
 1976 - 1991 : conflict with the
Polisario Front (natives : the
Sahrawis)
 Since : failure of negociations
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4. Background : why should I care about
Western Sahara?
 Oil and gas resources in unknown quantities (agreement between
companies, Morocco and the Polisario Front)
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5. Background : why should I care about
Western Sahara?
 Fishing activities
 Mining industry : gold, uranium, phosphate
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6. The key players
 Morocco versus the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
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7. Morocco
 Before the Spanish : a Moroccan territory
 The pressure of the population, question of intern stability
 Algeria wants to weaken the country
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8. The Polisario Front
 Self-determination of peoples
 Accusation of imperialism
 Algeria accused to make the population think
the Sahwaris agree the Moroccan project
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9. And what about our project ?
Area with great opportunities :
 Rio de Oro : an old river that ran dry recently.
Can we revive it?
 The littoral : possibility to make fresh water, with energy resources close to it
(oil, gas, uranium). Cost today: 3$/m3
 The great phosphate mines : ideal to make fertilizers and to develop
agriculture!
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10. Issues to solve…
 Agreement to build water pipes between the Southern humid areas and
the Sahara desert
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11. Issues to solve…
 To convince local authorities to fight againt the animals responsible for
desertification (dromedaries, goats…)
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12. Thanks for your attention!
Any questions?
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