The second National Rural Roads Programme (PNRR II) in the Guelmim-Smara region, endowed with a budget of more than 870 million DH, is 86% complete.

The remaining projects (202 km) will be launched soon, stressed the regional director of the Ministry of Equipment and Transport, Mohamed Benalla, during a presentation on Wednesday at the May session of the Regional Council.

On this occasion, Mr. Benalla called on local authorities to adhere to the efforts deployed with the aim of accelerating the pace of the implementation of this programme, which aims to increase the rate of access of the rural population to the road network from 38% in 2005 to 83% at the end of the current year.

The implementation of this programme, which covers the construction and development of 1418 km of roads, is being done within the framework of a convention between the State (85%), represented by the Minister of Equipment and Transport and the Minister of the Interior on the one hand, and the rural communes concerned (15%) on the other, he said.

Mr. Benalla indicated, on the other hand, that the operations carried out between 2007 and 2012 aimed at improving and modernising the road network in the provinces of the Guelmim-Smara region required an investment of 350 million DH.

Outcry from Smara NGOs

The local NGOs of Smara state that they condemn the negative positions of the special envoy, while welcoming Morocco's courageous decision to withdraw confidence from Ross, who has lost his objectivity and credibility regarding the file of the Kingdom's territorial integrity, indicates a press release received by MAP.

Ross "has shown blatant partiality, unacceptable drifts and a renunciation of the founding principles of negotiations as defined by the UN Security Council resolutions, and by his unbalanced and partial line of conduct," they observed, adding that these positions constitute a step backwards compared to the achievements made, notably the favourable reception by the international community of the Moroccan autonomy initiative, as a realistic political solution capable of guaranteeing the populations of the Moroccan Sahara their right to live with dignity, in their homeland, with a view to implementing the mechanisms of joint action to build a strong Maghreb group.

On this occasion, they reiterated their unwavering attachment to the Alaouite throne and their constant mobilisation behind HM the King for the defence of the Kingdom's territorial integrity, praising the initiatives led by the Moroccan government for the management of the Sahara file at the diplomatic and development levels through the promotion of the standard of living of the population in a modern and democratic state that respects the principles of human rights, and which guarantees equality and social justice, in accordance with the provisions of the new Constitution.

They called, in this regard, on the international community to intervene to put an end to the problem of Moroccans detained on Algerian territory, and to unveil the party behind this artificial conflict and exert pressure to expose the manoeuvres of the parties that hinder the achievement of progress in the negotiation process.

Furthermore, the local NGOs vigorously condemned the attack by separatist elements against the Moroccan consulate in Palma de Mallorca, in flagrant violation of diplomatic norms and which constitutes a provocation of the feelings of Moroccans, the press release adds.