A U.S. delegation visited the southern Moroccan city of Dakhla this week, just days before the UN Security Council is set to vote on a U.S.-drafted resolution to extend the UN mission in the Moroccan Sahara, Africa Intelligence reported.
The delegation included diplomats from the U.S. Consulate in Casablanca and the Embassy in Rabat. They met with local officials, including Wali Ali Khalil, Regional Council President Yanja Khattat, and Acting Director of the Regional Investment Center Ahmed Kathir.
According to the report, the visit also included tours of potential sites for a new U.S. consulate in Dakhla.
The trip comes despite a partial shutdown of the U.S. government that has suspended many diplomatic activities since early October. The State Department reportedly received special authorization to proceed, underscoring Washington’s interest in the Moroccan Sahara issue.
The visit follows remarks by Massad Boulos, former adviser to Donald Trump on African affairs, who said on October 17 that the United States had begun initial steps toward opening a consulate in Dakhla. Washington is expected to make an official announcement in November.
Morocco first requested the opening of a U.S. consulate in Dakhla in 2020, when it normalized relations with Israel under the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords. In return, the Trump administration formally recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara—a position that has remained unchanged under President Joe Biden.
The U.S. National Security Agency has already cleared American companies to invest in the region after reviewing local security conditions. Establishing a permanent diplomatic post, however, still requires budget approval and coordination between the U.S. Congress, the State Department, and Moroccan authorities.
The visit coincides with preparations for the Security Council’s vote on October 30, when members will decide whether to extend the mandate of MINURSO, the UN mission in the Moroccan Sahara. The United States and France are reportedly backing an extension until January 31, 2026, instead of the usual one-year renewal.
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