Rabat – France has reiterated support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the one and only solution to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot responded to pro-Polisario questions from Jean Paul Lecoq, stressing that France supports Morocco’s Autonomy Plan and the country’s position on Western Sahara.
“We have expressed our vision of the present and future of Western Sahara, which falls within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty as a direct consequence of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan,” Barrot said on Wednesday, noting that there are no other realistic and credible solutions.
“What we have truly said is that there are no other viable alternatives at present,” he said, recalling France’s support for the UN-led political solution to end the dispute.
In July, France recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara in a letter French President Emmanuel Macron sent to King Mohammed VI.
Macron said the autonomy initiative “constitutes the only basis for a political, fair, sustainable and negotiated solution, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.”
Morocco submitted the autonomy plan to the UN in 2007 after conducting a national and local consultation process to gather insights and facilitate discussions on its implementation.
The autonomy initiative grants the local population in the southern provinces broad self-governance rights, including the election of independent legislative, executive, and judicial bodies, while remaining under Moroccan sovereignty.
This would allow local authorities to develop the region in all areas, while security and external or foreign ties will be preserved to the Moroccan central government.
France’s decision came in response to maneuvers targeting Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara.
Algeria, which hosts, finances, arms, and supports the Polisario Front, expressed its “strong disapproval” of France’s newfound support for Morocco’s Sahara position.
“The Algerian Government has noted with great regret and profound disapproval the unexpected, untimely, and counterproductive decision of the French government to provide unequivocal and unqualified support for the autonomy plan over Western Sahara within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,” the Algerian Foreign Ministry’s statement read.
France responded to Algeria’s regime’s hasty statements during Macron’s historic state visit to Morocco in October last year.
“This is the position that France will implement to support Morocco in international forums,” Macron said during a speech at the Moroccan parliament, stressing that operators and businesses from France will continue supporting the development of Morocco’s southern provinces through investments and sustainable initiatives.
France’s position is “not hostile to anyone,” he argued, adding that the newfound French position on the Sahara is rooted in history and respectful of realities.
