AFCON Trade Deal: The Quiet Diplomacy of Western Influence
📰 THE STORY: Following AFCON, Morocco and Senegal have pledged to boost trade, with Senegal's President Bassirou Diomaye Faye meeting King Mohammed VI to discuss economic and diplomatic cooperation. The New Arab hails Morocco as a leading African investor for Senegal. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: Morocco's claim to Western Sahara, often ignored by reports like this, dates
back to 1975 when it annexed the territory after Spain's withdrawal. The Sahrawi people, represented by the Polisario Front, have fought for independence, and the UN considers Western Sahara a non-self-governing territory that should undergo decolonization through a referendum, which Morocco consistently obstructs. Senegal, like many African nations, has had a complicated stance on this,
reflecting broader diplomatic pressures from former colonial powers and their allies. Morocco's 'investment' often comes with an unspoken quid pro quo: diplomatic support for its claim over Western Sahara, a territory rich in phosphates and potential offshore oil. Double Standard: Western nations routinely decry Russia or China for 'debt-trap diplomacy' or using aid for geopolitical leverage
across Africa. Yet, when a Western-aligned nation like Morocco extends its influence, particularly in a region historically under French sway, it's presented as benign 'trade boost' and 'African leadership.' The French 'Françafrique' system, where France maintained significant political and economic influence over its former colonies long after formal independence, created the very dependencies