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Rabat – Morocco’s recent diplomatic breakthroughs in the Western Sahara dossier and other strategic fronts have decisively put the North African kingdom in the driver seat regarding the future of the region.
As more countries endorse its sovereignty over the territory, it is increasingly clear that the North African country is no longer waiting for the UN to set the pace. Instead, Rabat appears more determined than ever to continue shaping the international conversation on the dispute in its favor.
This can be seen in the growing international consensus around the country’s Autonomy Plan. Over the past few years, several countries have joined the deepening international chorus that views the Moroccan plan as the most viable route to a realistic and lasting solution to the lingering Sahara dispute.
A source close to the dossier told Morocco World News (MWN) that Morocco has consolidated its position thanks to King Mohammed VI’s leadership, which has led to major milestones on both the bilateral and multilateral fronts.
“The royal initiative has successfully generated a genuine movement in Europe and globally in favor of the Autonomy Initiative and support for Morocco’s territorial integrity,” the source said.
An ongoing international momentum
Most recently, the US shut down Algeria’s regime maneuvers seeking to challenge Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces.
Hiring lobbyists and using pro-Polisario advocates posing as human rights activists, Algeria’s regime has long hoped to see the US administration reverse Trump’s proclamation through which Washington recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara.
Following Trump’s departure from the White House in 2021, Algeria invested considerably in advancing its pro-Polisario agenda but failed to convince the Biden administration to reverse the Trump proclamation on the Sahara.
Now that Trump has taken over the US administration for a second term, his administration recently sent a direct blow to the Algerian regime by reaffirming Washington’s unchanged and unwavering support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the only feasible political solution to the Sahara dispute.
This deepening US position has been echoed across the globe, particularly in Europe. France, another permanent UN Security Council member, has joined the US in recognizing Morocco’s territorial integrity in July.
French President Emmanuel Macron recalled this position in a statement by the French Foreign Ministry, which said today that Paris’ newsround position is unchangeable. This reaffirmation builds on Macron’s earlier remarks that the present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.
The Foreign Ministry’s statement followed the visit by Bourita to Paris, where he met with Jean Barrot. The visit came after Barrot’s trip to Algiers to formalize reconciliation with Algeria.
Bourita’s work visit to France served as a platform to refute all of Algeria’s false claims and disinformation campaign on the French position on Western Sahara, as pro-Polisario advocates hoped for a change of tone or a reversal against the Moroccan stance.
In addition to France, at least 20 other European countries view the autonomy initiative as a serious and credible political solution to the Sahara conflict.
The list of European countries that joined the growing list includes Finland, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Germany, and Spain, aligning with Belgium, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Hungary, Estonia, and Austria among others.
The French and American reaffirmation of their unchangeable and unwavering position in favor of Morocco’s territorial integrity coincides with the closed-door briefing at the UN Security Council by UN Envoy for Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura.
Morocco leads the way at UNSC
During his briefing, de Mistura gave a speech that highlighted a change of tone in favor of Morocco’s autonomy initiative.
The UN envoy notably recalled the recent statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who reaffirmed the US support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.
Meeting last week with Morocco’s top diplomat Nasser Bourita, Rubio announced the US’ readiness to facilitate efforts aimed at achieving “genuine autonomy” and a “mutually acceptable solution” in the Sahara dossier.
De Mistura described this American position as echoing what he believes, calling for a discussion on the Autonomy initiative and asking for a detailed explanation of the Moroccan plan.
According to the close source who talked to MWN about the ongoing developments in this complex dossier, Morocco has transferred April’s annual UN envoy briefing to the UNSC into an “opportunity for diplomatic leadership.”
“April, traditionally perceived as sensitive due to UN deadlines regarding the Sahara, is now a moment where Morocco sets a proactive agenda, leads discussions, and creates momentum,” the source said, adding that this demonstrates Morocco’s growing diplomatic clout.
Morocco’s efforts also enabled the country to free itself, allowing it to dictate priorities and strengthen the international momentum in favor of its autonomy initiative, and it managed to mobilize support for its position worldwide.
