HIBAPRESS
Social media posts circulating on social media platforms in Mauritania sparked a wave of widespread controversy after activists, along with anonymous accounts, called for the "annexation" of La Güera, considering it "Mauritanian land," with the aim of transforming it into "Dubai of North Africa."
The digital campaign, which spread rapidly across Facebook and other platforms, adopted a discourse that calls for "action" to annex La Güera, especially with Morocco approaching a resolution of the Sahara dispute, with the aim of presenting it as a massive economic project that could rival major Gulf cities, especially Dubai. Some Mauritanian interactors went on to draw up visions of a modern city with modern ports, skyscrapers, and a free zone, considering that La Güera is capable of playing this role if it is "well invested," as they put it. The idea was presented as a historic opportunity for Mauritania to expand its influence and enhance its economic presence in the region, while anonymous accounts, which are likely Algerian, took over the re-publication and amplification of the calls. However, the reactions, especially in Morocco, were mostly directed towards ridicule, as commentators circulated the proposal in a sarcastic manner, considering that "the first stage has been completed" after Nouadhibou "turned into" Abu Dhabi of North Africa, in a sarcastic reference to the gap between the discourse and reality. Others mocked the idea of turning La Güera into a version of Dubai, wondering if Mauritania would announce the launch of skyscraper projects and luxury tourist areas similar to those in Nouadhibou, a city that cannot be compared in terms of infrastructure and quality even with small Moroccan cities. It is worth noting that the discussion came at the same time as the start of negotiations between the parties to the Moroccan Sahara dispute with American mediation in order to close the file within the framework of self-government, and the return of the La Güera reconstruction project by the Kingdom of Morocco to the forefront, especially with the emergence of Emirati investments in this regard.
