Hungary is set to expand its consular services to the Moroccan Saharan provinces
Hungary reaffirmed its clear support on Wednesday for Morocco's 2007 autonomy plan as the basis for resolving the Western Sahara issue, stating that it «must be the foundation» of a political solution within the framework of the United Nations.
Following talks in Budapest with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó emphasized that Hungary's position is in line with those recently reiterated by the United States and France.
Szijjártó also announced that he had instructed Hungary's ambassador to Morocco to visit the southern provinces, following in the footsteps of representatives from other major powers.
Additionally, the Hungarian minister confirmed the extension of Hungarian consular services to cover all Moroccan territory, including the Saharan provinces. According to him, the move reflects Hungary's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and supporting the growing international backing for Morocco's initiative.
France also announced on Wednesday the expansion of its consular services to the Saharan provinces via TLS Contact, which has opened an office in Laayoune.
This wave of support comes as the latest UN Security Council Resolution 2756 stresses the need to capitalize on the diplomatic «momentum» surrounding the issue.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
9 hours ago
- Morocco World
Morocco-Spain Tunnel: Bridging Continents for Euro-African Integration
A tunnel between worlds In the bustling port of Tangier, ferries cross back and forth, carrying families, tourists, and goods between Morocco and Spain. This route has long been crucial to connecting Africa and Europe. Today, with the proposed building of the Strait of Gibraltar tunnel, a new chapter in this cross-continental relationship is forming. The Strait of Gibraltar tunnel link between Morocco and Spain has once again captured international attention, thanks to recent developments in the two countries. On May 10, Spain allocated €1.6 million to conduct updated feasibility studies for an underwater rail tunnel that would link Punta Paloma in Cadiz to Punta Malabata near Tangier. The project, formally revived in 2023, following a period of uncertainty and disruption since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been under discussion since the 1980s. A recent joint statement issued by Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente and Moroccan authorities emphasizes the geostrategic importance of this crossing, which is seen to be more than just a physical connection: a bridge between continents, cultures, and economies. Despite its promise, the Morocco-Spain tunnel initiative faces daunting technical challenges. The 42-kilometer rail tunnel would extend as low as 475 meters beneath the sea and have to pass through a seismically sensitive region near the Azores-Gibraltar fault line. Symbolism and soft power To Morocco, the tunnel is more than simple infrastructure. It is a demonstration of soft power and continental leadership. With the only African country to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, (co-hosting alongside Spain and Portugal), Morocco is already making news. While early expectations had hoped to see the tunnel finished in time for the tournament, revised projections now place completion closer to 2040. Still, the political and cultural momentum remains significant. In April, Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called for a strengthening of EU-Morocco ties, stressing the importance of bilateral cooperation amid rising global uncertainty. Morocco is not just a neighbor, but a strategic partner for Europe. The Morocco-Spain tunnel project could become a literal and symbolic way to make these ambitions a reality. The cross-cultural initiative Operation Crossing the Strait (OPE), was referenced by Spain's Ministry of Home Affairs as an example of 'good coordination between neighboring countries and of the great preparatory work of our technical teams,' demonstrating how joint infrastructure efforts can be an example of broader diplomatic harmony. OPE is a 'permanent [form of] communication between our respective teams.' Local impact and ferry trade Economically, the tunnel would transform regional logistics. Analysts at CAPMAD observe that the tunnel is part of wider EU-African trade ambitions, particularly the European Green Deal and supply chain expansion into North and West Africa. Morocco, already a key trade partner with Spain and the EU, could further consolidate its role as an African entrance point for goods and labour. This is especially critical considering shipping disruptions and global instability that are pushing European countries to diversify supply routes and expand regional partnerships. The economic stakes are high. Spanish transport officials state that the tunnel will bring a 'quantitative and qualitative acceleration of the [Moroccan] economy' by opening up the movement of goods, services, and people. In May 2025, the launch of new high-speed ferry services between Tarifa and Tangier by Balearia once again highlights this point. As one Balearia spokesperson explained to Morocco World News, 'it's a very important route for our customers, for Moroccans, and for all tourists visiting Morocco, particularly the city of Tangier.' This only adds to the commercial viability of investment in permanent infrastructure, with the Strait of Gibraltar tunnel initiative demonstrating the growing demand for safe and efficient crossings. If ferry traffic is any indicator, demand for connectivity is high. The Gibraltar tunnel would not replace ferries but supplement them, offering a permanent, weather-resistant alternative. A tunnel of dreams and doubts Beyond the geopolitics and financial considerations lies a human story. For thousands of Moroccan families with relatives in Spain, and for students, workers, and tourists traveling between continents, the Strait of Gibraltar tunnel represents something tangible: ease of movement, integration and opportunity. Whether or not this vision is achieved depends not only on engineering calculations, but on sustained political will and inter-regional cooperation. However, not all are as optimistic. There is concern with the environmental implications of drilling through the sensitive seabed of the Strait of Gibraltar, especially in an area so crucial to marine biodiversity and the connecting point between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean . Meanwhile, the Morocco-Spain tunnel has often faced criticism as skeptics point to the decades-long history of missed deadlines and political detours. Although preliminary discussions began in the early 2000s, physical progress has been lacking, with each administration restarting efforts without any concrete goalposts. Technically, the tunnel would surpass even the Eurotunnel (connecting the United Kingdom, France, Belgium and The Netherlands) and Norway's Ryfast in complexity. The seismic hazards in the region make it unlike any existing underwater rail connection, as evaluated in regional infrastructure assessments. A future in the making In many ways, the Morocco-Spain tunnel is more than just an engineering feat; it represents the future of EU-African relations. It challenges the countries involved to contemplate something greater than borders and short-term gains. The tunnel is not simply steel and concrete, but the idea of greater continental solidarity. As plans move forward and studies develop, the question remains: Will the Gibraltar tunnel unite communities and close old gaps, or expose new ones? If completed, the project could stand as one of the 21st century's most powerful symbols of Euro-African unity. For now though, it remains merely a vision. Even if the train takes years to arrive, the journey it promises has already begun. Tags: economyMorocco spainunderwater tunnel
Morocco World
15 hours ago
- Morocco World
US Under Trump's Leadership Propels Push for Final Resolution of Sahara Dispute
Doha – A Spanish think tank report suggests the United States under President Donald Trump's returned administration is moving decisively toward resolving the decades-long fabricated Western Sahara dispute. This would potentially draw a definitive close to one of Africa's most unnecessarily prolonged and politically manufactured territorial falsehoods, long sustained by external agendas rather than historical legitimacy. According to an analysis published by Instituto Coordenadas de Gobernanza y Economia Aplicada on June 11, 'the Trump administration has urged Algeria and the Polisario Front to sit down immediately with Morocco and accept that the only possible political path is autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty.' During his first term, Trump recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, marking a landmark diplomatic breakthrough for Rabat. Now, following his return to office in January, the American president appears poised to complete this initiative by establishing a definitive roadmap to resolve this contrived and concocted standoff in North Africa. Last April, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated the 'unwavering support' of his country for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara, in addition to expressly stressing that the Autonomy Proposal presented by Rabat is the only viable and realistic solution to resolve the prolonged dispute in the region. Algeria pressed to choose between change or deeper isolation Washington has signaled its intention to review and potentially suspend funding for several UN missions, including the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). In a sharply worded op-ed published on March 19 in the Washington Examiner, Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, called on the United States to halt funding for MINURSO, describing it as a failed mission that 'preserves and provokes conflict.' He labeled the Algerian-backed Polisario Front a 'Marxist' group that 'holds wives and children as hostages' in the Tindouf camps to block Sahrawis from returning to Morocco. 'By funding these camps and inflating Polisario legitimacy,' Rubin wrote, 'the UN perpetuates the problem.' This possible withdrawal of financial support 'underscores the urgency for direct parties – Algeria and the Polisario Front – to join negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement based on autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty,' the Instituto Coordenadas report states. The report asserts that 'today, Morocco's autonomy proposal is the only basis for a credible and viable solution, but to make way for it, Washington needs the complicity and commitment of Algeria.' The White House has adopted measures 'to pressure Algiers, including pushing for Polisario disarmament and dismantling the Tindouf camps,' to bring all parties to the negotiating table. 'Presumably, Algeria will be subjected to pressure of unprecedented intensity, which will practically leave it no room for maneuver. That is the intention, at least,' the analysis notes. Refusal to cooperate could result in 'devastating consequences: greater diplomatic isolation, legal complications for its support of the movement, and probable secondary sanctions against Algerian entities that maintain links with the Polisario.' The report cautions that 'in Algiers, abandoning support for the Polisario after fifty years of commitment would be perceived as capitulation by a significant portion of the national establishment.' Another pressure point involves 'the threat of declaring the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO),' which constitutes a serious warning. A recent article published by the Hudson Institute on April 18 presents 'detailed legal arguments' maintaining that 'the Polisario Front meets the three legal criteria to be designated as an FTO' under Section 219 of the US immigration and nationality law. Washington's rush to seal the Sahara file Morocco's UN Ambassador Omar Hilale stated in an April interview with Medi1TV that 'the United States is determined to close the Western Sahara file, and we hope to celebrate the final end of this dispute at the 50th anniversary of the Green March with our Algerian neighbors.' The anniversary falls on November 6 – a highly symbolic date for all Moroccans. Speaking from New York, Hilale added that the current international context is 'marked by a positive dynamic and unprecedented international efforts.' He noted that more than 110 countries now support Morocco's position. The Instituto Coordenadas analysis explains that the Trump Administration considers Morocco an essential partner in its strategy for stabilizing the Sahel. American expectations regarding the Sahara 'aim to consolidate Morocco in a new status as a pivotal state in the US strategy for Africa.' In this regard, Washington's rush to resolve the Sahara dispute is also explained by its direct implications for the stability of the Sahel, a strategic region facing multiple security challenges, the report continues. 'This concern is reinforced by the growing presence of rival powers in the region, especially China, although it does not support the Sahrawi demands. One of Trump's international priorities is to counter China's growing influence in the world, including Africa,' the report continues. According to the report, there are also powerful economic interests in this urgency: the persistence of the dispute destabilizes the region and disrupts access to uranium, gold, and rare earth deposits that are vital to global supply chains. For the Iberian think tank, the US administration 'is aware of the enormous economic potential of the African continent, which promises the greatest future growth (demographic and economic), but also immense mineral wealth.' 'The White House is eager to establish new relational frameworks with countries in the region that take into account protection in terms of security, the definition of formulas to achieve greater political stability, and economic agreements that provide preferential access to resources and markets,' the analysis went on to say. The report argues that the American urgency to resolve the Sahara dispute is the result of a conjunction of strategic factors: the limitations of the internal political calendar, with the midterm elections (2026) in mind; the desire to consolidate Morocco as a pivotal state in Africa; competition for African mineral resources; and the determination to counter the influence of rival powers on the continent. Curtains closing on a separatist relic Rubio's forceful declaration, issued after his meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, inflicted a humiliating setback on Algeria's outdated narrative. His statement erased any lingering ambiguity surrounding the stance of Trump's second administration and cemented US recognition as an irreversible pillar of American foreign policy. This bold reaffirmation torpedoed Algeria's worn-out campaign to resuscitate its decades-old partition scheme between Morocco and the Polisario Front. And for the shrinking chorus of separatist sympathizers, the message couldn't be clearer: even Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, came face to face with the reality that separatism has been sidelined – a relic of the past in a dossier Morocco has already locked in its favor. Meanwhile, international calls are mounting to designate the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization. In an opinion piece published on June 10 in La Provincia, Igacio Ortiz recalled Polisario's terrorist attacks against workers from Fos Bucraa and fishermen from the Canary Islands. ACAVITE has filed complaints against the Polisario for the separatist group's involvement in assassinating 300 people between 1970 and 1980. In April, US Republican Congressman Joe Wilson announced, 'I will introduce legislation to designate the Polisario as terrorists,' accusing Algeria and Russia of using the separatist front to gain a strategic foothold in Africa. Former UK Secretary of State for Defense Liam Fox made a similar appeal, stating: 'Like Hamas and Hezbollah, the Polisario Front is an Iranian proxy organisation. For the sake of our Moroccan allies, Western governments must move quickly to designate this group as a terrorist organisation.' As international support continues to grow for Morocco's position, De Mistura delivered what he called a 'strategic window' for the next three months to build a renewed roadmap toward a political settlement. De Mistura urged capitalizing on the current momentum, which he described as an 'unprecedented impetus,' to establish the groundwork for regional de-escalation and credible political process revival.
Morocco World
18 hours ago
- Morocco World
Moroccan Software Engineer Accuses UN of Whitewashing Genocide
Rabat – Moroccan software engineer and former Microsoft AI employee Ibtihal Aboussad is sounding the alarm about the United Nations' upcoming 'AI for Good' summit, scheduled for July 8–11. Aboussad accuses the UN of whitewashing tech companies' role in enabling Israel's AI-assisted genocide against Palestinians in Gaza by giving them a platform at the summit. 'These companies provide the cloud infrastructure and AI technologies that allow Israel to accelerate its genocide in Gaza and uphold its regime of apartheid against all Palestinians,' said Aboussad, naming Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, IBM, Cisco, and Palantir as examples of complicit corporations. She warned that unless these technologies are regulated, their weaponization poses a threat to all of humanity, denouncing the UN's collaboration with these firms as 'UNlawful, UNacceptable, and truly UNbelievable.' Backed by the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, No Azure for Apartheid, and millions across the globe, Aboussad is calling for global pressure on the UN and its member states to end partnerships with genocide-enabling tech companies wherever possible, and to formally designate and regulate AI and cloud computing as dual-use technologies subject to international regulation. Dual-use designation would mean recognizing that these tools—often marketed as neutral or humanitarian—can serve both civilian and military purposes, including surveillance, targeting, and warfare, just like nuclear materials or chemical agents. Such a classification would subject them to legal controls, export restrictions, and transparency requirements. 'I'm appalled that the United Nations, which is supposed to uphold international law, is now partnering with corporations that are openly violating it,' Aboussad added, urging summit speakers and supporters to either publicly endorse these demands or withdraw if the UN refuses to meet its legal and ethical responsibilities. This is not the first time Aboussad has made headlines for her outspoken support for Palestine. In April of this year, she was fired by Microsoft after publicly confronting company executives during a live presentation at their Redmond headquarters. Addressing Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman directly, Aboussad declared, 'Mustafa, shame on you. You claim to care about using AI for good, but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military. Fifty thousand people have died, and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region.' Microsoft-enabled atrocities Aboussad, who directly witnessed Microsoft AI's provision of tools to the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and Israeli government to surveil and target Palestinians, called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to launch an investigation into corporate capture within the UN system and to sever ties with Microsoft's UN Affairs offices in Geneva and New York. 'Let's remind him that Microsoft knowingly provides Israel with customized technology, including AI, that enables its atrocious crimes against Palestinians,' she said. BDS has identified Microsoft as one of the most complicit companies in Israel's apartheid regime and ongoing genocide in Gaza, accusing it of knowingly supplying technologies that facilitate war crimes, crimes against humanity, and grave human rights violations. Microsoft's complicity extends to deep collaborations with the IOF, Israeli ministries, and the Israeli prison system, which is notorious for documented, systematic torture of Palestinian detainees. 'Microsoft has failed its corporate obligation to prevent genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Its board of directors and executives may face criminal liability for this complicity,' BDS warned, citing the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) legally binding, provisional rulings. Aboussad concluded by reaffirming her belief that AI can be used for the good of humanity—if and only if it is properly regulated and governed by enforceable legal and ethical frameworks that prevent its weaponization. 'Let's regulate AI before it's too late. Palestinians and humanity cannot wait any longer,' she said. The AI for Good Global Summit brands itself as the UN's leading platform in showcasing how artificial intelligence can address pressing global challenges. First held in 2017, it is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in collaboration with over 40 UN agencies and aims to promote AI applications aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—from healthcare and poverty reduction to climate action and gender equality. This year's program includes the grand finale of the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge, pitch sessions for women entrepreneurs from the Global South, and panels on AI in brain health, including Alzheimer's treatments—noble causes that risk being undermined by the summit's silence and whitewashing of AI's deployment in state violence and genocide.
