Sahara: North Macedonia Backs Morocco's Autonomy Plan

4 days ago

Rabat — North Macedonia announced its support for Morocco's 2007 Autonomy Plan as the only basis for resolving the Western Sahara dispute, marking another diplomatic victory for the North African country's position on its territory.
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

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AU Commission Renews Morocco's Mohamed Belaiche Mandate in Sudan

Morocco World

5 hours ago

Morocco World

AU Commission Renews Morocco's Mohamed Belaiche Mandate in Sudan

Rabat – The African Union has renewed the mandate of Morocco's Mohamed Belaiche as a special representative of the AU Commission Chairperson and head of the Union's Liaison Office in Sudan. The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssou, reappointed Belaiche, in recognition of Morocco's expertise and its commitment to promoting peace and stability across Africa. Belaiche's profile is full of expertise as he held several senior positions, including ambassador of Morocco to Sudan. With an in-depth knowledge of the situation on the ground, Belaiche holds strong experience in mediation processes and political transition management. The appointment comes in a complex regional context as Sudan has endured a civil war since April 2023 after a power struggle erupted between the country's army and a paramilitary group. The conflict followed the 2019 ousting of long-serving President Omar al-Bashir, who came to power in a coup in 1989. The situation caused not only ethnic killings, but also famine and massive displacements. According to the UN, confirming the exact number of civilian deaths in clashes remains difficult. 'But reports indicate that at least 300 people, including children and pregnant women, were killed in attacks… between 10 and 13 July,' the UN said earlier this month. During Morocco's presidency of the AU Peace and Security Council in September 2019, the country led a resolute diplomatic effort that resulted in Sudan's reinstatement in the AU after a period of suspension. AU countries welcomed Morocco's effort, marking a significant milestone in the AU's support for Sudan's transitional process. During an EU Peace and Security Meeting last year, Morocco called for a lasting political solution to the ongoing crisis in Sudan, where the conflict led to the massive displacement of more than 9.4 million people. Morocco notably conveyed hope for an end to the military confrontations, advocating for dialogue and restoring trust. Tags: Crisis in SudanMoroccans in Sudan

Morocco's PJD criticizes government based on controversial Numbeo ranking [Fact-check]

Ya Biladi

6 hours ago

Ya Biladi

Morocco's PJD criticizes government based on controversial Numbeo ranking [Fact-check]

Archive When it comes to attacking the government, the source or accuracy of the data no longer seems to matter. This is evident in the Justice and Development Party's recent criticism of the government's healthcare performance, based on a questionable ranking derived from the opinions of a small group of internet users. Despite its own extensive experience in public governance, the party ignored credible reports from official Moroccan and international institutions, such as Bank Al-Maghrib, the High Commission for Planning, the Court of Auditors, and the WHO, which, backed by rigorous methodology and field data, have themselves pointed to the government's shortcomings. Instead, the PJD chose to rely on the «Health Care Index by Country 2025», published by Numbeo, a platform whose credibility is highly disputed. In a lengthy article published on its website, the opposition party claimed that «despite the Akhannouch government's social-state rhetoric», Morocco ranked 94th out of 99 countries. It attempted to legitimize the ranking by describing Numbeo as «a site specializing in data analysis and international surveys», in an effort to lend credibility to its findings. The party went on to describe Morocco's position at the bottom of the African healthcare rankings as «alarming», noting that Rabat and Casablanca ranked 303rd and 310th, respectively, in terms of healthcare quality. The Truth Behind the Ranking Numbeo, the platform the PJD relied on, was founded in 2009 by Serbian national Mladen Adamovic and is registered in Serbia. The site openly admits that «the structure of the project allows anyone with an Internet connection to modify its content», and warns that «nothing found here has necessarily been reviewed by people with the expertise required to provide you with complete, accurate or reliable information. Use our content at your own risk». It further adds: «We do not provide any warranties that our services will meet your requirements, be uninterrupted, timely, accurate, or error-free, or that your information will be secure», and makes clear that «there is absolutely no assurance that any statement on the website is correct or precise». A closer look at the site reveals the weakness of its methodology. A single user can skew a city or country's overall rating simply by submitting multiple opinions. For instance, Rabat's healthcare rating was based on only 30 users, and Casablanca's on just 67, while Kaohsiung, Taiwan topped the global list based on only 47 submissions. Shifting Positions Ironically, back in 2019, when the PJD held the Ministry of Health under Saad Eddine El Othmani's leadership, it had firmly criticized Moroccan media for citing Numbeo's rankings. In an official statement at the time, the ministry dismissed the site's methodology, saying it lacked «scientific accuracy, sound methodology, and the standards used by recognized international institutions». The ministry stated that the rankings «were based on a small, unrepresentative sample, no more than 100 visitors to the site, and could not be used to evaluate national healthcare systems». It also warned media outlets to treat Numbeo's data with caution, describing it as «misleading and unaffiliated with any recognized international statistical health organization».

Spain deploys frigate as Moroccan NGO eyes operation on Leila Islet

Ya Biladi

7 hours ago

Ya Biladi

Spain deploys frigate as Moroccan NGO eyes operation on Leila Islet

The Spanish army is taking seriously the initiative launched by the «Coordination Committee for the Defense of the Kingdom's Causes», which plans to carry out an operation on the islet of Leila. In response, the Ministry of Defense has dispatched a frigate to monitor the area, according to a committee member who spoke to Yabiladi. Rachid Hssaine, spokesperson for the NGO, had previously mentioned the project in statements to our editorial team. The Spanish military later shifted its attention to the Chafarinas Islands, where a vessel docked on Tuesday. This deployment comes amid what Iberian media describe as «growing assertions in recent weeks from the neighboring country regarding the so-called 'Moroccan identity' of these territories». The maneuvers by the Spanish navy are seen as a move to reassure right-wing and far-right circles, which have raised concerns about the potential impact of the committee's creation on the security of Ceuta, Melilla, and other nearby islets. Vox party MPs have called on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to take action against what they describe as «a Moroccan project to invade the islet of Perejil». They are urging the left-wing coalition government to ensure the protection of Spain's sovereign territories, including Perejil, Alhucemas, Vélez de la Gomera, Chafarinas, Ceuta, and Melilla.