Think Forward.

Quand Christopher Nolan illumine Dakhla, Dakhla sublime son film... 2018

Aziz Daouda, 6 mon.
- World Politics - Art -
2.7 min read.
Christopher Nolan vient d’achever à Dakhla, joyau du sud marocain, le tournage d’une partie de son prochain film, "The Odyssey". C'est une adaptation cinématographique de l’épopée d’Ulysse. Parmi les lieux de tournage choisis, la spectaculaire Dune Blanche, située à une trentaine de kilomètres de Dakhla, un décor naturel exceptionnel mêlant sable blanc et lagune turquoise, qui a largement contribué à la richesse visuelle du film. Cette superproduction hollywoodienne réunit un casting prestigieux : Matt Damon y incarne Ulysse, aux côtés de Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway et Lupita Nyong’o. La sortie mondiale du film est prévue pour le 15 juillet 2026. Avant de poser leurs caméras à Dakhla, l’équipe de Nolan avait filmé des séquences à Ouarzazate, notamment au Ksar Aït Ben Haddou, ainsi qu’en Italie. Initialement, Nolan envisageait des lieux comme les Bermudes ou l’Australie pour certaines scènes maritimes, mais le choix s’est finalement porté sur le sud du Royaume, reconnu pour la diversité et la qualité de ses paysages naturels. Le tournage à Dakhla est largement perçu comme une formidable opportunité pour la ville et pour le Maroc, renforçant leur visibilité sur la scène cinématographique internationale tout en valorisant l’industrie locale du film. Mais qui est Christopher Nolan dans le monde du cinéma ? En 2024, il a remporté deux Oscars majeurs : celui du meilleur réalisateur et du meilleur film pour Oppenheimer (2023). Il a également reçu le César d’honneur pour l’ensemble de sa carrière, le BAFTA du meilleur réalisateur, ainsi que plusieurs autres distinctions prestigieuses telles que les Golden Globes et les Directors Guild of America Awards toujours pour Oppenheimer. Ce bref aperçu atteste que Nolan n’est pas une figure ordinaire dans l'industrie du cinéma? C'est l'un des plus grands cinéastes au monde. Cependant, cette production a suscité étonnement des controverses, infondées et dénuées de rigueur. Le média Middle East Eye lui a consacrée un article condamnant le tournage à Dakhla, adoptant un ton sélectif et victimisant, s’appuyant sur une rhétorique de « décolonisation » et de prétendues « voix autochtones ». Cette critique, truffée d’inexactitudes historiques et d’un parti pris évident, révèle soit une ignorance profonde de l'histoire de ces contrées et de leur géographie physique et humaine, soit une volonté délibérée de déformer la réalité pour une quelconque contrepartie… Le tournage s’est déroulé dans une ville paisible et stable, dotée d’infrastructures modernes, où règne une souveraineté marocaine incontestable. Et c'est probablement cette stabilité qui dérange certains, notamment parce qu’elle met en lumière les succès du Royaume dans cette région de son territoire, contrastant avec la situation difficile générée par le Front Polisario qui avec sa tutelle, n’a apporté aux populations séquestrées dans les camps de Tindouf que désespoir et absence de dignité, depuis près de 50 ans. Alors que Middle East Eye accuse le Maroc de « normalisation culturelle », l'article omet de mentionner que l’Algérie exerce une véritable occupation sur les Sahraouis séquestrés dans les camps de la honte, où ces derniers, minoritaires par rapport aux sahraouis au Maroc, ne disposent ni de liberté de circulation, ni de nationalité, ni d’une presse indépendante. Ils ne bénéficient même pas du statut de réfugiés, les Nations unis étant empêchées par le pays hôte de les recenser . La vraie question demeure donc : qui est le véritable colonisateur dans ce contexte ? Les Sahraouis, majoritaires, vivant dans le Sahara marocain bénéficient d’un niveau de vie significativement supérieur à celui des populations des camps de Tindouf, voire du pays hôte toute région confondues. Ils participent aux processus démocratiques, dirigent leurs communes, villes et régions, participent à la vie politique du Royaume, occupent des postes de responsabilités à tous les niveaux de l'état, créent des entreprises, animent des associations, voyagent librement et produisent des œuvres culturelles enrichissante pour leur pays. Leurs enfants vont dans des écoles et des universités de qualité. Ils se soignent dans des hôpitaux haut de gamme et n’ont nul besoin qu’un média prétende parler à leur place. En réalité, cet article n’a rien à voir avec un journalisme sérieux, mais traduit une nostalgie d’un colonialisme inversé et une vision néo-orientaliste dépassée. Il s’agit d’une mise en scène idéologique orchestrée par un groupe d’activistes européens, utilisant les Sahraouis comme instruments d’une propagande déjà vue pour ne pas dire ridicule. L'objectif ici n’est ni la paix, ni l’autonomie réelle, mais la perpétuation d’un ressentiment artificiel, au service de leur chimère d’un État sahraoui indépendant. Un état qui n’existera jamais. Entre temps, l'équipe de tournage de "The Odyssey" , satisfaite de la qualité de l'accueil, de l'assistance et du soutien des autorités marocaines et du travail réalisé, est bel et bien rentrée aux USA à bord d'un avion Royal Air Maroc affrété pour l'occasion. Gageons que Christopher Nolan ne fera pas longtemps avant de revenir avec un autre projet et que la beauté des images de son film, pousseront d'autres grands du cinéma mondial à venir à Dakhla pour sublimer leurs œuvres prochaines.
Aziz Daouda Aziz Daouda

Aziz Daouda

Directeur Technique et du Développement de la Confédération Africaine d'Athlétisme. Passionné du Maroc, passionné d'Afrique. Concerné par ce qui se passe, formulant mon point de vue quand j'en ai un. Humaniste, j'essaye de l'être, humain je veux l'être. Mon histoire est intimement liée à l'athlétisme marocain et mondial. J'ai eu le privilège de participer à la gloire de mon pays .


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Light Pollution and the End of the Construction of Imagination – Part 2 260

Julius Melien, 24 h.
Well, as I said in the previous article, I grew up and became a scientist. Not an astronomer, but a biologist. A biologist passionate about the stars. And many may ask: why didn’t you study astronomy? There are three reasons for that. The first is that I love biology. The second is that I was never good at mathematics. And the third is that I discovered that astronomers nowadays barely look at the sky. Telescopes work automatically, providing data to be analyzed later. That romantic astronomy of the past no longer exists. It was almost poetic, because imagination was the fuel for those scientists. Therefore, in cases like mine, it is much better to remain an amateur. This reminds me of a curious anecdote in which the writer Isaac Asimov is said to have refused an invitation to visit a factory where robots performed tasks on assembly lines, because he did not want to compromise his imagination. Returning to my story, when I was 21 years old, my father surprised me by taking me to a well-known store and buying a telescope. It was a relatively simple instrument, with a 60 mm aperture, but it allowed me to see the surface of the Moon perfectly, as well as Jupiter’s four largest moons and even Saturn’s rings. I don’t even need to say how I felt, do I? I became a child again! And that telescope is still here with me today, 30 years later. But here comes the bad part, which gives these two articles their title… Light pollution has reached extremely high levels, to the point that in large cities, when you look at the sky, you see very few stars, only the brightest ones. City lights have erased the night sky. What child today will look up at the sky and be enchanted by all that immensity? Who will feel themselves on the shores of the cosmic ocean, as Carl Sagan said in the first episode of the classic series Cosmos? How will imagination be built? In the same way, the inspiration of many poets and artists will be compromised. A child today, upon hearing stories of a time when the sky was filled with shining stars, might think that either the batteries ran out and no one replaced them, or that the bulbs burned out and no one changed them. It is still a child using their imagination, but without having experienced one of the most beautiful spectacles of creation. That spectacle is still there, happening, and it will continue to happen for a very, very long time. Or rather, as long as time exists, it will continue, but with a curtain separating the stage from the audience. Today there are movements and campaigns aimed at solving this issue, but I believe it is a great challenge to overcome. Until then, one alternative is to leave large urban centers and seek regions far away, at least 50 km from these cities, where one can truly enjoy the magical view of a clear and genuinely dark sky. I always wish clear skies to everyone, and ad astra!

CAF Sanctions: Disciplinary Justice with Variable Geometry? 472

Aziz Daouda, 1 d.
The decisions by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Disciplinary Commission regarding the incidents that marred the CAN final between Senegal and Morocco are now known. They were awaited, scrutinized, sometimes feared. But beyond their mere announcement, it is their **coherence, proportionality, and equity** that raise questions today. At first glance, the CAF sought to strike hard, giving the impression of sanctioning both parties to preserve a posture of balance. The CAF simply forgot that at its core, the conflict was squarely between Senegal and the referee, not with the Moroccan team, and thus, in the end, pitted Senegal against this very same CAF, responsible for the organization and officiating. Senegal and Morocco have thus, according to the commission's logic, presided over by a Senegalese, let us recall, been sanctioned to varying degrees. Yet, a close reading of the facts, confronted with the very content of the decisions rendered, reveals an **asymmetry that is hard to justify** between the severity of the acts observed and the weight of the sanctions imposed. The ridiculous is not far off. The central problem, namely, the officiating, has simply been swept aside. The most troubling element undoubtedly lies in the **total absence of any reference to the referee** in the Commission's ruling. As if he had never existed. Yet, the images and testimonies align: in the final moments, the referee displayed **manifest irresponsibility**. How can one justify resuming play when the minimum safety conditions were clearly not met? The stadium had been invaded by official Senegalese supporters, equipment had been vandalized, and tensions were at a boiling point. In such circumstances, the rules are clear: absolute priority must be given to the safety of players, officials, and the public. By ignoring this dimension, the Disciplinary Commission misses an **essential link in the chain of responsibilities**. They are, however, clearly identified. This is not to fully exonerate the Moroccan side. Reprehensible behaviors existed, and some hot-headed reactions could have been avoided. But the nature and gravity of these acts remain **incommensurable** with those attributable to the Senegalese delegation and its immediate environment. The most striking example remains the sanction imposed on Achraf Hakimi. Reproaching him for attempting to remove a towel belonging to the Senegalese goalkeeper—an object that, incidentally, had no business on the pitch—smacks more of a **search for artificial balance** than rigorous application of disciplinary principles. Can one seriously equate this gesture with outbursts involving pitch invasions and infrastructure damage? This harms the image of world football, beyond just African football. The inclusion of such an amalgam in the dossier and the proportionality of the sanctions are manifestly debatable. It is precisely on the terrain of proportionality that the CAF's decision falters. The sanctions imposed on the Moroccan camp appear **relatively heavy** given the facts reproached to them, especially when compared to those concerning the Senegalese side, which was linked to structurally far graver incidents. This disproportion undermines the narrative of those in Senegal and elsewhere who decried Morocco's supposed "stranglehold" on CAF bodies. If such influence truly existed, how to explain that Morocco itself ends up heavily sanctioned? Where is this alleged institutional protection when the disciplinary decisions, on the contrary, seem applied with particular rigor against it? One can only regret the missed opportunity for the CAF to show a new face of power and justice. The CAF Disciplinary Commission squandered a precious chance: to **clarify responsibilities, reaffirm the central role of officiating, and lay credible foundations** for managing crises in African competitions. By opting for punitive symmetry rather than a fine analysis of the facts, it perpetuates unease, fuels suspicions, and leaves the game's actors—players, officials, and fans, in a gray zone where perceived injustice becomes more damaging than the sanction itself. African football deserves better than disciplinary justice with variable geometry. It deserves an authority capable of owning its choices, naming responsibilities where they truly lie, and protecting the essentials: the integrity of the game and the safety of those who bring it to life. Today, some chuckle under their breath for escaping truly proportional sanctions for their misdeeds; others are stunned; still others conclude the immaturity of this African body, like other continental instances. A pitiful image for a continent whose youth aspires to development and a bright future, with football and footballers as role models. Has African football missed the chance to set an example? Did the CAF issue the wrong communiqué or target the wrong match? In any case, there is one clear winner slipping under the radar: the party at the origin of it all. Like a fugitive, the commission released its statement at an impossible hour... Funny, no? One wonders whether to hold out hope and pursue the process further, or resign oneself to admitting there is no hope for a just and credible African football body.

Najib Salmi, a Conscience Fades, a Legacy Endures 481

Aziz Daouda, 1 d.
- History - Society - Sports -
2.4 min read.
Najib Salmi has passed away, and with him closes one of the most beautiful chapters of Moroccan sports journalism. But beyond the collective tribute, it's also an intimate page of my own life as a columnist, colleague, and friend that turns. He leaves behind an immense professional legacy and, above all, an indelible human imprint. He was undoubtedly the greatest pen in Moroccan sports for decades. For over forty years, Najib Salmi embodied a certain idea of sports journalism, one that was demanding and responsible. In fact, he founded a school of sports journalism, having stumbled into it somewhat by chance and grown to love it. A central figure at the daily *L’Opinion*, where he directed the sports page, he marked generations of readers, especially through his cult column "Les points sur les i" (*Dotting the i's*), a rare space where freedom of tone blended with intellectual rigor and a sense of the public interest. He was an institution in himself. He belonged to that generation for which sports journalism was neither empty entertainment nor a echo chamber for blind passions, but an act of public service. At a time when Moroccan sports was entering the era of professionalization, money, and excessive media coverage, his pen knew how to denounce excesses, pinpoint responsibilities, and salute, with the same honesty, real progress and achievements when they were genuine. Najib Salmi was not just a great columnist; he was also a builder. At the helm of the Moroccan Association of Sports Press from 1993 to 2009, he fought for the profession's recognition, the defense of its ethics, and the dignity of those who practice it. He helped embed Moroccan sports journalism in regional and international bodies, earning credibility through seriousness and consistency. Wasn't it at a congress he organized in Marrakech that our friend Gianni Merlo was elected president of AIPS? Wasn't it he alone who headlined young prodigy Said Aouita after he set a new national 1500m record? He rightly predicted that Aouita would go far. He was the unwavering supporter of generations of great athletes. He attended every world championship and Olympic Games. He supported me too, with strength and determination. A man of principles, discreet but inflexible on essentials, he believed that respect for the reader and the truthfulness of information were non-negotiable. This moral uprightness, rare in an environment often subject to pressures and interests, earned him recognition from his peers as a true school of sports journalism. Abdellatif Semlali, the legendary Minister of Youth and Sports and his friend, delighted in calling him "Monsieur à côté" (*The Man on the Side*). He truly was. He never fit anyone else's mold, even during a brief stint at *Le Matin du Sahara*, then masterfully directed by Moulay Ahmed Alaoui. For me, Najib Salmi was more than a professional reference; he was a friend, a brother, and a mentor. It was thanks to his trust that I was able to write for years in *L’Opinion*'s sports pages, learning the craft day by day, line by line, under his attentive and benevolent gaze, enduring his mood swings and, above all, his corrections to style and syntax. He passed on to me more than writing techniques: a vision of what a column should be, rooted in integrity, thorough groundwork, and a rejection of shortcuts. Even today, if I continue to write, it's also because that inner voice he helped instill remains, the one that reminds us not to betray sport, the reader, or the truth. Najib Salmi passed away at the age of 78, after a long battle with illness, leaving an immense void in the newsrooms of *L’Opinion* and *Challenge*, to which he contributed with strength and diligence. He leaves a huge void in the hearts of all who crossed his path. He will rest in the Chouhada Cemetery in Rabat, where he himself had accompanied so many other friends, acquaintances, loved ones, and colleagues, and many who grew up under the benevolent shadow of his pen. May God welcome him in His mercy. To the friend, the brother, the master who showed me the way, I can say only one thing: thank you, Najib, for the delightful moments shared, for the words, the lessons, and the example. Readers will miss Najib Salmi; the family, the inner circle, and I will bury Said Hejaj. Said Hejaj departs peacefully to rest. Najib Salmi will live on in history.