“Africa Eco Race” Rally: Ignoring the Polisario’s Threats, Participants Continue Their Journey Across Moroccan Sahara
ALDAR/
Despite the threats from the Polisario Front, the “Africa Eco Race” in its 16th edition reached the city of Laayoune, the fourth stop on the route connecting Monaco to Dakar.
This event is one of the most prominent desert rallies in the world, with around 550 participants from 30 different countries competing in various categories, including motorcycles, cars, trucks, and light vehicles.
The rally is considered one of the greatest physical and logistical challenges in the world of desert racing. Despite the baseless threats from the Polisario, the competition continues with a high level of professionalism. The participants arrived in Laayoune last Friday, then in Tarfaya on Saturday, and are preparing to head towards the city of Dakhla this evening, hoping to overcome the challenges of the route and weather conditions.
The rally spans nearly 6,000 kilometers through the deserts of Morocco and Mauritania, and will conclude in Dakar, Senegal, on January 12. This 15-day rally represents a challenge not only from a sporting perspective but also strategically, as the competitors face diverse geographical challenges, from sand dunes to rocky plateaus, requiring high driving skills and the ability to endure the harsh conditions of desert environments.
Despite its sporting nature, the event carries political symbolism by recognizing the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.
The “Africa Eco Race” remains a symbol of peace and human challenge in the face of adversity, demonstrating that sport can be a bridge for communication between peoples, beyond political tensions.
This rally is not just a sports competition, but a celebration of human will and the ability to overcome challenges. It is also an opportunity to strengthen relations between the participating countries and to confirm that the road to Dakar does not stop at political borders, but extends through the determination of the competitors and their physical and intellectual energies.
