Conference “Western Sahara facing security challenges in the region” – Friday, June 28, 2019, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Salle Lamartine – Immeuble Jacques Chaban-Delmas – 101 rue de l’Université, Paris

Chaired by: Mr Jean-Paul LECOQ, Member of Parliament, member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Study Group on Western Sahara.

The security challenge in the Sahara region is fundamental for Africa and Europe. A crossroads of human, economic and military exchanges, the Sahara is bordered by States that are trying to establish security in this area while blocking illegal flows across it. As a border with Morocco, with which it has been in conflict for more than 40 years, what role does the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic play in this area? How does it fit into safety management and security in the Sahara?

RSVP: bur.aarasd@wanadoo.fr / 06 44 18 08 40

Answer imperatively before June 21, no invitation can be taken into account after this date. For security reasons, please confirm by giving your name; first name; date, city and country of birth.

Program:

14h: Welcome and protocolary remarks: Jean-Paul Lecoq and Régine Villemont ( 10 mn).

14h15 : Introduction of the Sébastien Boulay symposium – Professor in Paris-Descartes – International University Observatory of Western Sahara (OUISO) (15 mn).

14h30-16h : Round table with three regional stakeholders on security issues:

• The responsibility of the SADR for regional stability: roles and perspectives Brahim Kerdelas Adviser to the Secretary of State for Security and Documentation (30 mn).
• Between the Sahel and the Sahara, what role for Mauritania? S. Mohamed Sidina Cheikh Hamdi – Professor of History at the University of Nouakchott (15 mn).
• Algeria, a regional power at the heart of Abdelkader Abderrahman’s challenges – University Professor in Lyon (15 mn).
• Exchange with the audience ( 15 mn).

16h-16h30 : BREAK ( 30 mn).

16h30: The place of Western Sahara in France’s security strategy in the Sahara-Sahel – speaker to be confirmed later ( 15 mn).

16h45 : Deconstruction of the Moroccan discourse on regional security issues Carlos Ruiz Miguel Professor of constitutional law at the University of Santiago de Compostela (20 mn).

17h : Debates, exchanges with the audience, conclusion and thanks (15 mn) .