US consulate opening in Dakhla moves forward with American delegation visit

The establishment of a United States consulate in Dakhla is becoming increasingly tangible, Africa Intelligence reported on Tuesday, October 28. «An American consular delegation is currently in Dakhla to meet with local authorities and initiate the preliminary steps toward opening a consulate in the city», the outlet revealed.

This development follows recent remarks by Massad Boulos, special advisor to US President Donald Trump for Africa, who told a Saudi media outlet that Washington «is preparing to open a consulate in Dakhla, in the Moroccan Sahara».

The move traces back to Trump’s announcement on December 10, 2020, which was later put on hold under President Joe Biden, reportedly due to pressure from the Democratic Party’s left wing in Congress.

The opening of the consulate would mark a continuation of the US’s formal recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and its commitment to encourage American public and private investment in the region. This stance was reaffirmed by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau during a press briefing following his meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on September 25 in New York, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.