States that want to open representations in Laayoune or Dakhla want to show by this very strong political act that their diplomatic presence in the southern provinces is the same as in other cities of the Kingdom such as Marrakech, Agadir or Tangier, said the minister who was speaking at a joint press briefing with his Gabonese counterpart, Alain-Claude Bilie-By-Nzen.

Bourita noted that the inauguration of these Consulates "hurts very much" other parties who will continue to issue unnecessary statements to express their hostility to this momentum.

He stressed that the opening by Gabon of a Consulate General in Laayoune attests to the firm support of this friendly country to the sovereignty of the Kingdom over its Sahara, adding that this brotherly African State has historically supported Morocco's stance on this issue, especially since it participated in the Green March in 1975.

For his part, the Gabonese Foreign minister stressed that the opening of this Consulate shows the firm support of his country to the Moroccanness of the Sahara.

While praising the "unique, special and close" relations between Gabon and Morocco, the Gabonese official invited his country's community to settle in the southern provinces to benefit from training in the fields of sea fishing, tourism, renewable energies and buildings.