Sahara: North Macedonia Backs Morocco's Autonomy Plan
The North Macedonian government announced this stance in a joint declaration signed Monday in Skopje by Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski and his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita.
Mucunski reaffirmed his country's longstanding support for the UN-led process aimed at finding a fair, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution for all parties involved in the dispute.
The two countries expressed commitment to UN leadership in the political process and voiced support for UN Security Council Resolution 2756 from October 2024.
This resolution stressed the role and responsibility of the parties in seeking a realistic, durable, and compromise-based political solution.
The ministers also backed the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy and his mission to advance the political process in line with relevant Security Council resolutions and UN Charter principles.
North Macedonia's position adds to growing international momentum behind Morocco's autonomy initiative.
In a letter to King Mohammed VI, France's President Emmanuel Macron called the plan that Morocco proposed in 2007 to offer the region autonomy under its sovereignty the 'only basis' to solve the dispute.
On June 1, during a joint press conference in Rabat, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that his country would change its position to support Morocco's Autonomy Plan for the Western Sahara, calling it 'the most credible, viable, and pragmatic' solution to the conflict.
The US recognized Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020, while Spain shifted its position in 2022 to support the autonomy plan as 'the most serious, realistic and credible basis for resolving the dispute over Western Sahara.'
Read also: Report: China, Russia Likely to Recognize Moroccan Sovereignty Over Western Sahara Tags: MoroccoNorth MacedoniaSouthern provincesWestern sahara
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Maroc
28 minutes ago
- Maroc
Training Session for Women in UN Peacekeeping Military Operations Kicks Off in Agadir
A training session for women involved in UN peacekeeping military operations kicked off on Monday 04 August at the headquarters of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) Southern Zone in Agadir. This three-week session brings together 23 female military personnel from 14 different countries, mainly from Africa, as well as from France, Germany, Switzerland, and Canada. It is part of a triangular partnership between Morocco, France, and the United Nations. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Major General Mohammed Benlouali, Chief of Staff of the Southern Zone, stated that the training aims to empower female military personnel and prepare them to fully assume leadership roles within UN peacekeeping operations, while also strengthening the triangular cooperation to enhance female leadership in support of international peace and security. This program, he added, reflects the Royal Armed Forces' strong commitment to promoting an inclusive approach based on gender equality, encouraging the integration of female military personnel at all levels and in all branches of the FAR, in accordance with the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the FAR. UN Women's representative in Morocco, Myriem Ouchen Noussairi, expressed her deep appreciation to the FAR for hosting this training "a strategic initiative and for their "steadfast commitment to peace and security in Africa and beyond." This training, held within the framework of multilateral cooperation, is proof of a strong partnership aimed at increasing women's participation in peacekeeping operations and supporting the emergence of a new generation of women leaders in uniform, she added. According to Noussairi, the year 2025 marks a pivotal moment in the UN "Women, Peace, and Security" agenda concerning women's rights, gender equality, and peacebuilding, fully aligned with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which emphasizes the importance of women's participation and gender perspectives in peace negotiations, peacekeeping missions, and post-conflict peacebuilding. The participation of women in peacekeeping operations is essential to the success of this agenda and the missions themselves, she stressed. In statements to MAP, female military participants from various countries highlighted the significance of this training session at the Southern Zone Headquarters in Agadir for strengthening their skills and leadership capacities to contribute to sustainable and inclusive peace. This training program, which includes several modules, was developed jointly by UN Women, the UN Department of Peace Operations, and the Royal Armed Forces, with the participation of international experts. (MAP: 05 August 2025)
Morocco World
2 hours ago
- Morocco World
Spain Denies Removing Flag from Islands Near Morocco
Rabat – Reports that Spain removed its national flag from two small islets near the Moroccan coast are not accurateare not accurate, according to Spanish fact-checking platform Newtral. The platform contacted the Ministry of Defense, which said the reports were 'incorrect,' adding that 'there have been no flags with raised cloth or metal poles on these islands for more than twenty years.' Several news websites, including Spanish outlets, reported that Spain had quietly taken down its flag from El Bar and El Bahar, two uninhabited islands just off the Mediterranean coast near Al Hoceima, Morocco. Some called it an 'unexpected move' and suggested it was a sign of Spain stepping back from the disputed territories. The ministry clarified that instead of traditional flags, Spain uses metal structures painted in red and yellow, the colors of the Spanish flag. These are fixed on raised concrete platforms and serve as markers of Spanish presence. The ministry explained that weather and exposure to the sea may sometimes fade the paint, making the colors hard to see, but there has been no change in policy or removal of symbols. The original claims speculated about a possible political shift, recalling past tensions such as the 2002 standoff over nearby Perejil Island. But Spain's official response shuts down these rumors. The Ministry of Defense confirmed there has been no official action or change to the status of the islands. Despite improved relations between Morocco and Spain in recent years, disputed territories along the Mediterranean coast remain a sensitive issue. These territories include several small islets and enclaves such as Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, Peñón de Alhucemas, and the Chafarinas Islands, located just meters from Morocco's northern coastline. Though these rocky outcrops are uninhabited and of limited economic value, they are highly symbolic. Spain has retained control over them since the 19th century and considers them integral parts of its national territory. However, many Moroccans view these remnants of colonial rule as anachronistic and assert that they should be returned to Moroccan sovereignty. Tags: flagislandsMoroccoSpain
Morocco World
3 hours ago
- Morocco World
After Suspending Ties with ‘SADR,' Panama Supports Moroccan Sovereignty Over Sahara
Marrakech – Panama has unequivocally declared Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in the Western Sahara, marking a principled U-turn in the Latin American country's position on the artificially prolonged dispute. This breakthrough follows Panama's decision to sever diplomatic relations with the self-proclaimed 'Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic' (SADR), a paper entity manipulated by the Polisario Front and propped up by Algeria's military regime. Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Eduardo Martinez-Acha Vasquez delivered a powerful televised statement commemorating the 26th anniversary of King Mohammed VI's accession to the throne. 'The Republic of Panama has reiterated its support for the autonomy proposal for the provinces of the Moroccan Sahara,' he asserted. The Moroccan plan is 'considered by the international community as the only credible, realistic and applicable option to resolve this dispute.' Evolution of Panama's position The shift in Panama's stance has followed a clear progression over recent months. On November 21, 2024, Panama's Foreign Ministry slammed the door on diplomatic relations with the self-styled 'SADR,' stressing the decision aligned with the country's commitment to constructive foreign policy and support for UN-led resolution efforts. Following this announcement, King Mohammed VI sent a message to Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino Quintero, expressing gratitude for the 'wise decision' regarding 'Morocco's primary national cause.' The monarch declared that 'this highly significant decision strengthens Morocco's legitimate rights' and 'aligns with international legality.' On November 27, 2024, during a video conference with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Martinez-Acha Vasquez 'reiterated the sovereign decision of the Government of Panama to suspend diplomatic relations' with the self-proclaimed 'SADR.' In a high-level meeting, the two foreign ministers vowed to revitalize bilateral cooperation, citing a joint commitment to South-South partnership. The discussions led to an agreement to strengthen legal ties and resume political consultations between their foreign ministries. Panama's diplomatic realignment accelerated with the appointment of Isbeth L. Queil Murcia as Ambassador to Morocco in January, cementing bilateral ties. The seasoned diplomat, who previously served as Director General of Foreign Policy and Deputy Representative to the United Nations for Panama, presented her credentials to Bourita in Rabat. The evolution culminated on June 16, when the Joint Declaration from Martinez-Acha Vasquez's working visit to Rabat proclaimed: 'the Republic of Panama reaffirms its support for the Moroccan autonomy plan… considering it as the most serious, credible and realistic basis for progress towards a lasting agreement on the territorial dispute over the Sahara.' Beyond the Sahara dispute, both countries pledged to promote the exchange of expertise across multiple sectors, particularly green development, energy transition, agriculture, food security, fisheries, and tourism. During this visit, the Panamanian foreign minister also delivered a written message to King Mohammed VI from President Mulino, reflecting 'the will of the Heads of State of both countries to strengthen the positive momentum in Morocco-Panama relations and to elevate them to broader horizons of cooperation.' Strategic importance Panama's position wields exceptional influence as the country currently serves as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (2025-2026). According to Morocco's state news agency, 'Panama's voice will actively contribute to finding a definitive solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, within the framework set by the latest UN Security Council resolution.' This decision obliterates what little remained of the Polisario Front's credibility, delivering a knockout blow that shatters its fabricated narrative and leaves it exposed, discredited, and gasping for relevance on the international stage. It marks the political suffocation of the separatist militia – cornered, diplomatically isolated, morally bankrupt, and strategically defeated. Stripped of legitimacy and abandoned by the international community, the Polisario Front now finds itself in freefall, its delusions of statehood crushed, and its descent into total geopolitical irrelevance accelerating. One by one, its pillars of support are collapsing, as the move dismantles its narrative brick by brick, erasing what little standing it had left on the global stage. Panama was historically the first Latin American country to recognize the self-proclaimed SADR in 1980 and hosted its first claimed embassy in the region. Panama now aligns with over 100 countries backing Morocco's Autonomy Plan as the sole viable political solution to end this artificially prolonged dispute, including 20 European Union member states. Tellingly, 70% of UN Security Council member states now demand resolution of this dispute within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty and based on the Autonomy Plan presented by Rabat in 2007. This seismic shift in Panama's position mirrors the surging international momentum behind Morocco's territorial integrity and the collapsing relevance of the cold war-era separatist agenda championed by Algeria's military regime, which continues to funnel logistical, financial, and military support to the Polisario Front despite mounting domestic crises. Tags: panama and moroccoPanama and the SaharaWestern sahara
