Rabat – Earlier today, France made a bombshell announcement in favor of Morocco’s position on the Sahara dispute. In an unprecedented letter to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, President Emmanuel Macron boldly declared that “the present and future” of Western Sahara “lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.”
Most Moroccans, at least those who have been following recent developments in the Sahara dossier, thus woke up this morning to this good, game-changing news of France’s change of heart to emphatically support Morocco’s territorial integrity.
In a statement confirming and hailing the move, Morocco’s royal cabinet notably quoted Macron as indicating in his letter that his country is committed to its unwavering support on the national security issue for Morocco.
This turning point represents a pivotal and long-anticipated position from a key strategic partner for Morocco at all levels, including security and trade.
As Morocco’s second largest trade partner, France’s new position aligns with the kingdom’s long-standing position on the Sahara dossier, reflecting the diplomatic efforts Rabat has made over the past three decades to resolve the contentious dispute over its southern provinces.
Consistent position regardless of political shifts
Through his letter, Macron also reassured Morocco that his country’s position is firm, emphasizing the inviolability of its position on the Sahara dispute.
This reflects the country’s readiness to defend this newfound position from any pressure and from critics that would be looking to lobby France to reverse its endorsement of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan.
This comes as the US and Spain have long faced internal pressure from pro-Polisario parties, who advocated the separatist’s claims over Western Sahara.
In doing so, France — one of the founding members of the UN — aims to send a clear message that will remain consistent and steadfast regardless of future political shifts, much like the consistent stance adopted by the US under both the Trump and Biden administrations.
Despite facing enormous pressure to reconsider the Trump administration’s proclamation recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, the Biden White House consistently responded by reaffirming America’s steadfast and unchanged commitment to the Moroccan Autonomy Plan.
Macron hinted at his country’s determination to demonstrate similar firmness and consistency in the face of domestic and foreign pressure. In particular, he stressed not just signifies France’s ongoing support for the Moroccan autonomy proposal, but also its determination to champion Morocco’s position on the world stage.
Language change on autonomy
France’s new position also marks a refinement in language and diplomatic jargon regarding the dispute, signaling a significant shift in its diplomatic position.
Historically, France has been consistent in describing Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a serious and credible initiative.
Macron’s recent statement however stressed how Paris is now significantly shifting to emphasizing that any resolution of the Sahara dispute should be anchored within the framework of Morocco’s sovereignty.
Macron notably articulated that advocating for broad autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is not merely a preferred approach but the definitive framework for resolving the territorial dispute.
Crucially, Macron described France’s support for the Moroccan plan as “both clear and unwavering,” reflecting a deepening commitment to recognizing Morocco’s relentless efforts to close the Sahara dossier in a way that fosters stability and prosperity in the region.
Indeed, one of the Macron statement’s notable shifts from the traditional stance on the autonomy plan is its insistence that the Moroccan initiative “consists now the only basis to achieve a just, lasting, and negotiated political solution, in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions.”
This comes as resolutions issued by the Security Council — of which France is one of the five permanent members — have consistently stressed that a genuine, ultimate solution to this regional dispute requires a political, realistic, and practical compromise.
In its successive resolutions since 2007, including 2703 of October 2023, the Security Council has emphatically welcomed the autonomy initiative as the most serious and credible route to a lasting resolution of the Sahara dispute.
Is more momentum on the way?
The shift in France’s language represents a game-changer in the UN-led political process, potentially presenting a broader international movement towards Morocco’s position.
Following the US’ decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces in December 2020, a growing number of countries publicly aligned themselves with Morocco’s autonomy initiative.
The momentum notably began with Germany, which highlighted the plan’s viability in 2021, followed by Spain’s endorsement of the autonomy plan, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez calling it the most serious and credible framework for resolving the dispute.
Countries like the Netherlands and Bulgaria, among others, have also extended their support to the Moroccan stance, strengthening the international endorsement of the autonomy initiative.
Furthermore, a public campaign is gaining traction in the UK, where numerous MPs are urging their government to join the US and other countries in endorsing Morocco’s territorial integrity.
On the bilateral front, meanwhile, France’s new position is set to conclude the reconciliation efforts between Paris and Rabat.
For much of the past decade, the European country backed Morocco’s autonomy plan as a legitimate and serious solution to the dispute.
Yet many in Morocco viewed this support as insufficiently robust, describing it as little more than a symbolic endorsement rather than a decisive affirmation of Morocco’s territorial integrity.
In this sense, Macron’s bold shift towards an unequivocal embrace of Morocco’s territorial integrity marks the official end of a prolonged political stalemate between France and Morocco, ushering in a new era in which both countries appear poised to further cement and boost their “essential” and “critical” strategic partnership.
