French public company Gédia turns a deaf ear to calls to exit the Sahara

The French public company Gédia, 51% owned by the city of Dreux, is considering the development of solar and wind energy infrastructure in Dakhla. In response, the Polisario has turned to the NGO Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) in an attempt to block the projects.

On August 12, the NGO sent a letter to the mayor of Dreux questioning «how the city of Dreux justifies this commitment in light of the European and international legal framework applicable to Western Sahara». The letter included a series of questions that remain unanswered by the mayor.

It is worth recalling that on May 22, the mayors of Dreux, Pierre-Frédéric Billet, and Dakhla, Erragheb Hormattollah, signed a friendship pact, paving the way for a future twinning agreement. Just weeks later, from July 7 to 11, a Dreux delegation led by Billet traveled to Dakhla for a working visit.

Gédia is also preparing to test in Dakhla what it describes as a world-first technological innovation, combining agriculture, aquaculture, and environmental preservation. Details of the project remain confidential, but according to French media on July 29, it is seeking funding from the French embassy in Morocco. «This initiative is part of an approach based on knowledge-sharing, innovation, and positive environmental impact», Billet told the press.

For context, on July 30, 2024, France officially recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.