Franco-Moroccan Deal-Making: French PM Sébastien Lecornu wrapped a two-day Rabat visit by co-chairing the 15th High-Level Meeting with Aziz Akhannouch and signing 14 cooperation agreements spanning the economy, security, migration and defence, including support for Rabat’s regional rail and a water-policy loan—part of Paris’s push to deepen ties after the 2024 Western Sahara reset. Sahara-linked Business Push: Morocco has launched a new tender for 1,090+ hectares of irrigated farmland in occupied Western Sahara, expanding commercial vegetable production tied to the Dakhla seawater desalination project powered by Engie. EU Aviation Ruling: The European Parliament approved an updated EU-Morocco aviation protocol that excludes Western Sahara from the treaty’s scope, a move the Sahrawi Working Group calls another legal recognition of Sahrawi sovereignty. Local Growth Snapshot: Morocco’s High Commission for Planning reports 2024 growth of 4.4%, with Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra (7.6%) and Dakhla-Oued Eddahab (7.0%) leading—highlighting how southern regions are driving parts of the economy. Diplomacy vs. Tension: Spain’s opposition Partido Popular is accused of stoking anti-Morocco sentiment ahead of power, despite the broader Morocco-Spain strategic partnership framework. Press Freedom Under Pressure: Moroccan journalist Ali Lmrabet was released from custody after defamation charges, keeping attention on the business climate for independent media and civil society.