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Rabat – The US renewed its support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan on Thursday as a “credible” and “serious” solution to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
The US made the remarks following the adoption of Resolution 2654, which extended the mandate of UN peacekeeping operation MINURSO for one year until the end of October 2023.
US ambassador Jeffrey DeLaurentis emphasized the Security Council’s support for UN Personal Envoy Staffan de Mistura and his efforts to facilitate a “just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution for Western Sahara.”
The ambassador also reiterated the US’ support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative as “serious, credible, and realistic and one potential approach to satisfying those aspirations.”
The statement not only reaffirms US support for Morocco’s territorial integrity but also forms another setback to Polisario and its supporters – most notably Algeria- which have been increasing lobbying attempts to convince the US Administration to reverse its stance.
The US recognized Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over Western Sahara in December 2020. Former US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation supporting Morocco’s position, a decision that caused frustration among Polisario and its supporters.
In addition to the support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative, the US reiterated concerns about the situation of Sahrawis in Tindouf, where malnutrition, food shortage-driven diseases, and inhumane conditions prevail.
Earlier in October, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the international community about the situation in Tindouf, particularly regarding food insecurity.
“The refugees were at risk of serious food insecurity and malnutrition,” Guterres said in his report on the situation in Western Sahara.
Through Resolution 2654, the Security Council echoed “deep concern” about the continued hardships faced by Sahrawi refugees, and their dependency on external humanitarian assistance.
The resolution regretted “insufficient funding for people living in Tindouf and the risks associated with the reduction of food assistance.” The resolution also strongly encouraged donors to provide additional funds in light of the deteriorating humanitarian situation. Several reports have expressed the same concerns about food shortages in the camps, pointing out embezzlement of aid as the main factor for the hardships that Sahrawis face.
The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) documented in 2015 embezzlement of aid in Tindouf between the period of 2003 and 2007, showing that Polisario was directly involved in selling Tindouf’s humanitarian aid in Mauritania and sub-Saharan markets under Algeria’s watch, without taking any accountability.
