Belgian Party Proposes Bill to Recognize Morocco's Sovereignty Over Western Sahara
Rabat – Georges-Louis Bouchez, President of Belgium's Reformist Movement Party, has announced submitting a bill to Belgium's federal parliament to recognize Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara.
The party's website confirmed the news today, noting that Bouchez announced the news during his visit to Morocco, where he held a series of diplomatic meetings seeking to strengthen ties between Rabat and Brussels.
'These initiatives are part of a long-term vision based on judicial cooperation, shared security, and support for a political plan to ensure stability in this region of Morocco,' the statement said, adding that the bill notably seeks a strong support for the Autonomy Plan as the only credible political solution to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
Bouchez highlighted the viability of the Moroccan plan for a peaceful solution to the long-standing dispute, noting that the region is now an 'area of development, stability and peace under Moroccan administration, as he personally observed during his visits to Laayoune and Dakhla.'
The Belgian party called on Belgium to clarify its position on the dispute, noting that the current context and historical neutrality no longer 'reflect the current geopolitical developments.'
A recognition of Morocco's position, according to the party, is not against the international law and will not undermine it; instead, it will encourage a realistic political solution in line with conditions on the ground.
Belgium has frequently stressed the importance of the autonomy initiative as a serious and credible political solution to end the dispute.
However, a full and direct recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces will add to the country's diplomatic momentum as many countries are joining the chorus in support of its national cause.
As many as 113 countries support the Moroccan autonomy initiative, viewing it as a good basis, and the majority of them look at it as the only feasible political solution to end the dispute.
This is in addition to the unambiguous support of Morocco's territorial integrity by major world powers, including the US and France.
The recent wave of recognition unlocked the door for many countries that have joined the international community to support the Moroccan proposal, including recently Korea.
Earlier this month, Korea endorsed Morocco's autonomy initiative while describing it as the ultimate and most viable path towards resolving the territorial dispute over the Sahara.
'Korea takes note of the Moroccan autonomy proposal presented in April 2007 to the Secretary-General of the UN and welcomes serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the process forward towards a resolution of this issue,' Korea's government announced on May 9.
The statement dealt a new setback to the Algerian regime, which continues to cling to its support for the Polisario Front, the separatist group that challenges Morocco's territorial integrity. Tags: Algeria and Western SaharaBelgium and Morocco
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
an hour ago
- Morocco World
International Calls to Label Polisario as Terrorists Intensify Amid Scrutiny of Separatists' Violent Past
Rabat – International appeals are mounting to confront Polisario's violent past and ongoing threats to regional stability. Igacio Ortiz published a new opinion piece on June 10 in La Provincia, in which he recalled Polisario's terrorist attacks against workers from Fos Bucraa, fishermen from the Canary Islands, and civilians from the Basque Country, among others. The author cited well-documented attacks reported by the Canary Association of Victims of Terrorism, also known as ACAVITE, noting that similar crimes reveal 'glaring historical evidence of terrorism' that the US cannot overlook. Violent past against Spanish workers ACAVITE has long been filing complaints against Polisario, calling for justice due to the separatist group's involvement in assassinating 300 people, mostly businessmen and fishermen. It also advocated for victims who were injured, tortured, or kidnapped by Polisario's militia between 1970 and 1980. Spain has acknowledged the presence of victims of the Polisario Front but failed to hold the Polisario leader responsible. In April 2021, Polisario's leader Brahim Ghali entered Spanish soil under a fake passport and the fake name of Mohamed Ben Battouch to escape judicial cases and complaints against him. He traveled to Spain for hospitalization, a case that sparked political tension with Morocco. It was not until April 2022 that Spain and Morocco opened a new chapter in their relations when Madrid endorsed Morocco's Autonomy Plan as a serious and credible political solution to end the dispute. For the author, similar calls to designate the Polisario as a terrorist group should not be a mere political theater. 'On the contrary, it should be a moral imperative,' the opinion piece reads, recalling Polisario's direct involvement in war crimes and terror attacks against workers from Fos Bucara and fishermen from the Canary Islands and the Basque Country. Notably, the piece zoomed in on Polisario leader Ghali and his direct involvement in terrorist attacks, noting his past included coordinated attacks killing seven Spanish crew members in 1978 in a high-profile crime referred to as the Cruz del Mar incident. Ghali, who was Polisario's Minister of Defense at the time, was also involved in the Mencey de Abona hijacking in 1980, where Captain Domingo Quintana was found strangled with a Polisario flag tied around his body. 'These are just a couple of examples among many, despite the political and media silence, particularly in the Canary Islands,' the author wrote. The piece further stressed that Polisario's crimes are backed by Spanish court documents and extensive press archives, showing that the group has been operating as a terrorist militia for decades. Ortiz also recalled the growing calls from politicians worldwide, urging their countries to label the Polisario Front as a terrorist group. International appeal In April, US Republican Congressman Joe Wilson announced that he would introduce legislation to that effect. 'I will introduce legislation to designate the Polisario as terrorists,' Wilson said, accusing Algeria and Russia of using the separatist front to gain a strategic foothold in Africa. Liam Fox, former Secretary of State for Defense in the UK, also made the same appeal earlier this year, saying: '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.' Several research institutions and think tanks made similar appeals, shattering Polisario's self-portrayal as a liberation movement and unmasking its terrorist acts as an armed group that is involved in terrorist attacks, arms smuggling, and the indoctrination of youth. Among these institutions is the Hudson Institute, which recently stated: 'The Polisario Front claims to fight for self-determination in the region. But the organization carries a legacy of destabilization.' A new report from The National Interest made similar remarks in a new publication authored by Ahmed Sahrawi, who recalled the ongoing momentum in favor of Morocco's position in Western Sahara. Notably, the piece recalled the UK's newfound position, endorsing the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the most serious and credible political framework to end the dispute for the first time in the country's history. Over 113 countries, including Kenya and Ghana, have joined the chorus to emphasize the viability of the autonomy initiative as the sole path to end the Western Sahara dispute, long exploited by the Algerian regime to advance its interests and challenge Morocco's territorial integrity over its southern provinces. La Provincia's new opinion piece recalled all the latest publications that have shed light on Polisario's criminal record, including the Washington Post's latest report quoting European officials who confirmed that Polisario fighters, based in Algeria, received training from Iran's proxy Hezbollah. 'Over the years, Iran has fostered a wide array of proxy groups to advance its interests,' the report said, quoting a regional official and a third European official who said Iran trained fighters from the 'Algeria-based Polisario Front,' who are now detained by Syria's new security forces. It also detailed the threats Polisario has directed at anyone and any country cooperating with Morocco, including Mauritania. 'Mustafa Sayed had already defended terrorism a year earlier, using his typical violent and dangerous rhetoric to incite Sahrawis to carry out terrorist acts against Moroccan interests in Western Sahara,' La Provincia wrote. Concluding the opinion piece, Ortiz said the US administration has an opportunity to declare Polisario a terrorist organization 'not only for its alliances with Iran or Hezbollah, but for its crimes against the citizens of Spain.' Tags: Brahim GhaliPolisario Front
Morocco World
an hour ago
- Morocco World
Belgium Opens New Visa Application Center in Rabat
Doha – Belgium inaugurated on Thursday a new center for processing visa applications in Rabat. The facility, located at TLS-Millenium Business Centre, complements an existing center in Casablanca, expanding services for Moroccan visa applicants. The opening ceremony was attended by several officials, including Joris Salden, Director General of Consular Affairs for Belgium's Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, along with Gilles Heyvaert, Belgium's Ambassador to Morocco, and Bassem Missaoui, TLS Contact's Director General for North and West Africa. In his address, Salden noted that the new center represents an important step in improving access to consular services. He stated that his mission within consular diplomacy is to ensure transparent, professional, reliable, and accessible service. 'This center aligns perfectly with our strategy to bring our services closer to citizens,' Salden said. He explained that the Rabat TLS center will initially be dedicated exclusively to students to simplify the visa application process for those pursuing education in Belgium. 'We are pleased to welcome these students for high-quality training in Belgium, which helps strengthen the historical ties between our two countries,' he added. Previously, students enrolled in higher education programs in Belgium had to visit the embassy in Rabat to complete a study questionnaire and travel to Casablanca to submit their applications. Now, students can complete all procedures in Rabat on the same day: file submission at TLS Rabat, followed by a questionnaire at the Belgian Embassy. 'From now on, a single procedure will be sufficient, which represents a significant simplification of the process,' Salden pointed out. He went on to explain that implementing a digitalization system allows for more efficient processing of applications, while requiring a new work approach based on dedicated software and digital infrastructure. Ambassador Heyvaert stated that this initiative aims 'above all to guarantee quality services and ensure applications are processed within reasonable timeframes.' The ambassador noted that 'Morocco is a strategic country for Belgium, just as Belgium holds a strategic position for Morocco,' continuing that visa policy 'is part of the relationship framework that helps strengthen ties between the two countries.' Missaoui of TLS Contact recalled that since 2016, TLS has proudly worked with Belgium to collect visa applications, initially in Casablanca. 'Today marks an expansion of operations,' he said. The company is committed to ensuring optimal reception conditions that match the high service standards and quality of welcome it intends to offer visa applicants, Missaoui affirmed. The Belgian Embassy in Morocco processes more than 20,000 visa applications annually, a figure that continues to rise. Read also: France Expands Consular Services to Morocco's Southern Provinces
Ya Biladi
3 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
China to eliminate tariffs on African exports, Morocco among beneficiaries
China has announced plans to eliminate all tariffs on goods from 53 African countries it maintains diplomatic ties with, including Morocco. The move, announced following a meeting between senior Chinese and African officials in Changsha, is part of a broader economic pact aimed at boosting African exports to the Chinese market. The initiative will extend duty-free access beyond least developed countries (LDCs) to include middle-income nations. «It enables middle-income countries like Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Morocco... to be able to now enter the Chinese market duty-free» Hannah Ryder, head of the Africa-focused consultancy Development Reimagined, told Reuters on Thursday. The move is expected to boost access for value-added African products to the vast Chinese market. Morocco, with its growing industrial base, particularly in automotive and agri-food sectors, stands to benefit. It is worth noting that Moroccan exports to China reached $1.3 billion in 2024, a figure expected to rise under the new plan. En 2024, les exportations marocaines vers la #Chine se sont élevées à 1,3 milliard de dollars. Avec la nouvelle mesure de zéro #tarif, ce chiffre va continuer d'augmenter. — Ambassade de Chine au Maroc (@ChineAmbMaroc) June 13, 2025 The Chinese foreign ministry also pledged additional support for LDCs to ensure they are not disadvantaged by the new arrangement. The measure could help rebalance trade, which remains skewed in China's favor. Last year, China recorded a $62 billion trade surplus with Africa.
