Western Sahara: Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Support for Morocco's Territorial Integrity
Rabat – Saudi Arabia has reiterated its strong support for Morocco's territorial integrity and its sovereignty over Western Sahara.
It declared that Morocco's autonomy plan remains the only viable solution to end the ongoing regional dispute.
Saudi Arabia made the statement today during the 14th session of the joint Moroccan-Saudi committee held in Mecca.
During the session, the Gulf country expressed its unwavering support for Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara and its continued backing for the autonomy initiative as the sole basis for resolving the conflict, all while respecting Morocco's territorial integrity and national unity. The Saudi government stressed that any resolution to this regional dispute must be achieved under Morocco's sovereignty.
In addition, Saudi Arabia commended major initiatives King Mohammed VI has launched for the benefit of Africa. These include the Atlantic Initiative for Sahel countries, which aims to help the landlocked Sahel countries in West Africa access the Atlantic Ocean.
Saudi Arabia also mentioned the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project, a major initiative aimed at transporting natural gas from Nigeria to Morocco and other countries in Africa and Europe.
Announced in 2016, the project involves the construction of a pipeline that will stretch over 5,600 kilometers. The project aims to improve energy access, promote economic development, and enhance regional integration.
Saudi Arabia acknowledged King Mohammed VI's leadership role in promoting sustainable development across Africa and strengthening peace, security, and stability on the continent.
Also during the session, the country recalled the monarch's commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause and preserving Al Quds's cultural identity and maintaining its status as a symbol of tolerance and coexistence among the Abrahamic faiths. Tags: Saudi arabia MoroccoWestern sahara
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Biladi
2 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
Is Algeria using Polisario Front members to shield Kaïs Saïed's regime ?
The Polisario Front was recently the subject of a phone conversation between Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and his Tunisian counterpart Kaïs Saïed, held during Eid al-Adha. In this exchange, Tebboune reportedly asked Saïed «to host certain personalities from the Polisario Front currently living in the Tindouf camps», according to the weekly Jeune Afrique. Several leaks further suggest the presence of Polisario officials in Tunisia. Since Saïed's ascent to power on July 25, 2021, Tunisia has notably abandoned its long-standing neutral stance on the Western Sahara issue, a position maintained since the era of Habib Bourguiba. This policy shift was underscored by Saïed's reception of Brahim Ghali, the Polisario leader, at Tunis airport during a Japan-Africa summit in August 2022, as well as Tunisia's abstention during a UN Security Council resolution vote on the Sahara in October 2022. In apparent reciprocity, Algeria has provided significant financial support to Tunisia through loans and donations, particularly in December 2022 and March 2023. The Algerian company Sonelgaz also contributes to supporting its Tunisian ally by supplying electricity and gas. Ensuring the Longevity of the Saïed Regime A Moroccan source, speaking to Yabiladi, confirmed Jeune Afrique's information regarding Tebboune's request, stating that «for the past two or three months, dozens of Polisario members have entered Tunisia with Algerian passports». Our source elaborated, «Their mission is to protect the Tunisian regime against a potential revolution or coup, especially as protests against Saïed's decisions are gaining momentum, threatening the regime's stability. Algeria does not want to lose another ally in the region, especially after the fall of Bashar Al-Assad in Syria and the retreat of the national unity government forces in Libya in the face of Khalifa Haftar's advance». The source emphasized the strategic importance for Algeria: «Saïed's regime is Algeria's last declared ally in North Africa and the Sahel. Mauritania, for its part, has distanced itself from Algerian projects and has decided to put an end to the Polisario's border violations. In this context, the survival of the Tunisian regime is crucial for Algeria, as protests against Saïed multiply». It is worth noting that the majority of senior Polisario officials hold Spanish or Mauritanian nationality. As a historical reminder, Polisario elements, with Algeria's support, have previously fought alongside the armies of Muammar Gaddafi and Bashar Al-Assad. However, these reinforcements did not prevent the eventual fall of those regimes.
Morocco World
8 hours ago
- Morocco World
CNDH Elevates Children's Voices as Central in Government Legislation
Rabat – The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) in Rabat has brought together children from across Morocco for a two‑day national consultation on June 13 and 14 to strengthen child rights. The event marked the culmination of a year‑long journey of 12 regional consultations held between February 2023 and February 2024. Supported by UNICEF Morocco, the initiative aims to firmly embed the principle of children's participation into Moroccan laws and administrative procedures. CNDH President Amina Bouayach opened the session alongside children's representatives from each region. 'We are holding the national consultation today as a culmination of the regional consultations that we have conducted over the past year in the 12 regions of Morocco,' she told Morocco World News in an interview on the sidelines. CNDH two-day consultation in Rabat These consultations had two main objectives, Bouayach said. 'The first was to engage and discuss with children about implementing and establishing the principle of participation in the legal texts and administrative procedures in Morocco,' she explained. The second objective was to work with these children on identifying the major issues related to their rights, guarantees, and programs, in order to present their report next September. Over the two days, children will lead all discussion sessions, with a focus on how to apply the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in national policy and how to prepare their own parallel report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. In September, two elected child delegates from this consultation will travel to Geneva to present Morocco's children's perspectives directly to the committee. CNDH two-day consultation in Rabat 'Participation is key,' said Laura Bill, UNICEF Representative in Morocco, on the sidelines of the event. 'Most of the work of UNICEF around the world, and including in Morocco, is to ensure that children's participation is part of any government initiative,' she told MWN. Bill noted that the children's views will be included in the government's annual report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva. Laura Bill, UNICEF Representative in Morocco Bouayach described the initiative as a pioneering effort recognized both in Africa and around the world. She added that this national consultation not only gathers children's voices on legal and social issues, but also empowers them through practical workshops. Among these is an interactive drawing workshop on digital spaces and safe internet use. The event will close with the launch of a 'Children's Call,' a statement reflecting their vision and top priorities for rights and protections. CNDH and UNICEF will sign a partnership during the closing session to reinforce their joint commitment to 'Listen. Act. Participate.' CNDH President Amina Bouayach Tags: childrenCNDHconsultation
Morocco World
11 hours ago
- Morocco World
Senegal Reaffirms Support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan for Sahara at UN Meeting
Rabat – Senegal has once again confirmed its strong support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan as a solution to the Western Sahara dispute. The statement came during a speech by Senegal's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Diamane Diome, at the UN's C24 (Special Committee on Decolonization) session, taking place in New York between June 9 and 20. Diome said that his country 'wishes to reaffirm its steadfast support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative, which the Security Council has described as serious and credible in its successive resolutions since 2007.' He noted that more than 118 UN member countries, including three permanent members of the Security Council, now support this initiative. France, the United States, and, most recently, the United Kingdom, have expressed their support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative. The ambassador also pointed to Morocco's progress in promoting human rights in the region, especially through the work of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) offices in Dakhla and Laayoune. In addition, the diplomat spoke about Morocco's major investments in its southern provinces, which are part of the new development model aimed at boosting sustainable growth, protecting the environment, and promoting local culture. These projects are helping improve living standards and human development indicators in the region. Senegal also commended Morocco for fully respecting the ceasefire agreement and for cooperating with the UN peacekeeping mission MINURSO. Ambassador Diome called on other parties to also respect the ceasefire, as outlined in Security Council Resolution 2756. He further urged more cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme to better protect the rights of people living in the Tindouf camps, including their freedom of expression, access to aid, and the need for proper registration in line with international humanitarian law. The Senegalese diplomat welcomed the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for the Sahara to restart the political process. He encouraged all involved parties to return to roundtable talks to reach a realistic and lasting political solution. Diome concluded by reaffirming Senegal's full support for Morocco's sovereignty and territorial integrity and recalled that Senegal opened a consulate general in the southern city of Dakhla on April 5, 2021. Tags: autonomy plansenegalWestern sahara
