Latest news with #MoroccanAutonomyInitiative
Morocco World
3 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Senegal Renews Support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan
Rabat – Senegal has renewed its support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan as a serious and credible political solution to end the dispute over Western Sahara. 'My country expresses its support for the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative as a compromise solution in accordance with international law, the United Nations Charter, and the various resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly,' Senegal's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Diamane Diome, said. He made his remarks during a regional seminar of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization held in Dili, Timor-Leste. Ambassador Diome recalled the momentum Morocco has achieved over the past few years. Morocco's Autonomy Plan has garnered enormous international backing over the past decade, with the Senegalese diplomat noting that more than 60% of UN member states, including two permanent members of the Security Council, support the Moroccan proposal as the most viable path toward a lasting settlement of the Sahara question. He also spoke enthusiastically of his country's decision to open a Consulate General in Morocco's southern provinces on April 5, 2021. The Senegalese ambassador further commended Morocco's heavy investments in the region, recalling that King Mohammed VI instructed the deployment of massive development projects worth more than $10 billion to transform the region and locals' living standards. Stressing the importance of Morocco's full respect for the ceasefire and commitment towards the UN-led political process, Senegal also urged all other parties to the Sahara dispute to refrain from any actions harmful to the political process. He also expressed support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his envoy Staffan de Mistura, who aimed to revive the political process under the exclusive auspices of the UN. He concluded his remarks by calling on all four parties, including Algeria, which frequently distances itself and refuses to shoulder responsibility in the dispute. In addition, Ambassador Diome emphasized the need to engage in the UN-led political process to find a mutually acceptable and agreed upon solution to the conflict. Morocco's autonomy initiative is increasingly creating a robust international consensus around the centrality of political compromise as the most viable horizon for the Sahara. The initiative has to date received the support of over 113 countries, with many nations describing it as the only feasible political solution to the Sahara conundrum. More importantly, many countries that were once staunch supporters of the Polisario Front have also joined the chorus of support in favor of Morocco's position. Just this week, Kenya officially joined the growing list of countries that described Morocco's autonomy initiative as 'the only sustainable approach' to resolve the Western Sahara dispute. Tags: algeria western saharaSenegal and Morocco
Maroc
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Maroc
C24: The Sahara is Moroccan by History, Law and the Free Expression of its Populations
Morocco's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Omar Hilale, affirmed during the regional seminar of the UN Committee of 24 (C24) for the Pacific that the Sahara is Moroccan by history, law, and the free expression of its populations. "The Sahara is Moroccan by history, law, and the free expression of its populations. It is now time for other parties to recognize this and build together a future of peace, stability, and cooperation for our region and our continent," Hilale emphasized during this seminar, held from May 21 to 23 in Dili, Timor-Leste. The ambassador also denounced Algeria's delaying tactics that are hindering the resolution of the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, as well as its strategy of destabilization in the Maghreb region and beyond. "Despite Morocco's commitments and the United Nations' constant efforts, the political process to settle this regional dispute continues to be hampered by Algeria's delaying tactics, which, while claiming not to be a party to the conflict, nevertheless plays a central role," he said, noting that Algeria hosts, arms, finances, and diplomatically supports the separatist group "polisario," and persists in an unrealistic and destabilizing stance in the region. He pointed out that in the face of this impasse maintained by Algeria, the international community seems to have made a decision, citing in this regard the ongoing withdrawal of recognition of the puppet entity, while more than 116 States around the world have expressed explicit support for the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative. Similarly, around thirty countries have opened consulates general in Laayoune and Dakhla, thus recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces, he added. Referring to the Committee's continued examination of the Moroccan Sahara issue, ambassador Hilale noted that this situation wrongly condemns the issue to a rigid interpretation through a prism disconnected from the profound evolution that this issue has undergone and continues to undergo. "As you know, upon its accession to the United Nations, the Kingdom of Morocco initiated efforts with the 4th Committee and the C24 for the liberation of its Sahara from colonial rule. After nearly two decades of tough negotiations, Morocco was able to recover its Saharan provinces by virtue of the Madrid Agreement of November 1975, which the United Nations General Assembly acknowledged in its Resolution 3458B of December 1975," the ambassador emphasized. He added that since then, and following Algeria's creation of the armed separatist group "polisario," the question of the Moroccan Sahara has become a matter of peace and security, justifying its treatment by the Security Council under Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter for the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes. He further noted that the Security Council has definitively ruled out the option of a "self-determination referendum," which had been raised by some, emphasizing that the UN Secretary-General concluded in his report of February 17, 2000 (S/2000/131) that "an orderly and consensual implementation of the Settlement Plan" was impossible. Since then, the Security Council has resolutely turned towards finding a mutually acceptable political solution, in line with the reality on the ground and the imperatives of regional stability, he said, recalling that all Security Council resolutions underline the need to reach a political solution based on compromise. In Hilale's view, this paradigm shift reflects the United Nations' desire to move away from a rigid, binary approach and embrace an approach adapted to the evolving global perception of the situation and respectful of international law. "These developments have paved the way for the emergence of the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative as the sole basis for a lasting settlement in accordance with international law," the ambassador said, affirming that this Initiative, presented in 2007 and described by the Security Council as serious and credible, indeed constitutes an innovative and bold proposal for resolving this dispute. It provides for the granting of broad autonomy to the populations of the Sahara within the framework of the sovereignty and the territorial unity of the Kingdom of Morocco, he continued. Morocco's Permanent Representative to the UN also underlined that the Kingdom remains committed to a lasting political solution and extends its hand to all those who sincerely wish to turn the page on this regional dispute and pave the way for cooperation that is beneficial to all. He noted, however, that "this commitment cannot be one-sided or eternal. It presupposes a genuine desire for dialogue on the part of the other parties, particularly Algeria, whose role can no longer be ignored. The key to progress in the political process lies in Algiers, as the former Personal Envoy, the late Peter Van Walssum, noted in 2008." The Ambassador affirmed that the time has come to reassess with clarity and courage the way this issue is being addressed within this Committee. Mr. Hilale, along with Moroccan Ambassador to Jakarta Redouane Houssaini, is leading an important delegation to the C24 regional seminar. The delegation is composed of several officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, in addition to the Vice President of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS). Two elected officials from the Moroccan Sahara, Ms. Ghalla Bahiya from the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab Region and Mr. M'hamed Abba from the Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra Region, are participating in this seminar at the invitation of the Committee's President, as has been the case for several years. MAP:22 mai 2025
Maroc
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Maroc
Support for Moroccan Sovereignty over Sahara & Autonomy Initiative Reflects International Consensus to Resolve This Regional Dispute
The international momentum, driven over the years by HM King Mohammed VI in favor of the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and in support of the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative, continues to gain strength. This growing support reflects a broad international consensus to resolve this regional dispute within the framework of Morocco's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This momentum has seen significant developments since January 2025, particularly with the withdrawal of recognition of the so-called "SADR," the expansion of support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and the Autonomy Initiative, and the ongoing momentum on the ground. On January 7, 2025, Ghana announced its decision to withdraw recognition of the so-called "SADR," aligning with the decisions made by Panama and Ecuador at the end of 2024. As a result, more than 85% of UN member states now do not recognize the entity. In parallel, over 30 countries have reaffirmed their full support for the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and the Autonomy Initiative as the sole political solution to this regional issue. This brings the total number of supportive countries to 116, representing over 60% of UN member States. Among them, the United States reiterated its recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and reaffirmed its endorsement of the autonomy proposal as a serious, credible, and realistic basis for a just and lasting solution. France has also reiterated its consistent position on three occasions since President Emmanuel Macron's address to the Moroccan Parliament in October 2024. This same momentum has been echoed by the six member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as by numerous countries across Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia. Following the recent diplomatic tour by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates to several European capitals, four European countries, namely Spain, Estonia, France and Hungary, reaffirmed their positions, while two new countries—Croatia and Moldova—declared their support for the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative as the most serious basis for resolving this regional dispute. Hungary, for its part, has made political decisions to implement its recent position, including dispatching its ambassador to the Moroccan Sahara and expanding consular services to the Southern Provinces. Slovenia, through its Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tanja Fajon, stated on Friday that it appreciates the Moroccan autonomy initiative, presented by Morocco in 2007, as a good basis for a definitive solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. The position of Slovenia, currently a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, was expressed at a press conference following talks in Ljubljana between Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita and Fajon. The issue of the Moroccan Sahara is therefore witnessing significant diplomatic developments, with growing international support for the autonomy initiative. Twenty-two European Union member states have now officially expressed their backing for this solution. On the ground, this clear support for the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara was further demonstrated by the holding of two joint commissions in Laayoune on January 17, 2025, with Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia, both of which expressed their intention to contribute to regional socio-economic development in light of Morocco's Atlantic-focused strategies. These include the African Atlantic States Process, the Royal Initiative to Facilitate Sahel Access to the Atlantic, and the Nigeria-Morocco African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, in addition to large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Dakhla Atlantic Port, as part of the New Development Model for the Southern Provinces. Moreover, numerous foreign delegations continue to conduct economic missions to the region in support of its development and for the benefit of local populations. This growing international momentum in support of the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and the Autonomy Initiative has now become an undeniable reality—sending a clear message to the United Nations and other stakeholders, which are now more than ever called upon to shoulder their responsibilities to end this artificial dispute, and move beyond rigid, outdated positions that are increasingly disconnected from the evolving political, diplomatic, and on-the-ground realities of the Moroccan Sahara. MAP: 18 avril 2025
Morocco World
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
De Mistura's Favorable Tone on Autonomy Plan Could Strike Nerve Among Pro-Polisario Advocates
Rabat – UN Envoy Staffan de Mistura has called for a detailed discussion on the Moroccan Autonomy Plan on Western Sahara, which has been receiving international consensus as the only feasible political solution to end the regional dispute. De Mistura briefed the UN Security Council on Western Sahara during a closed-door meeting on Monday, where he acknowledged diplomatic momentum, including the unwavering support for Morocco's autonomy initiative from major powers like the US. AFP quoted de Mistura's speech, in which he recalled the statements made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week during the visit of Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita to Washington. He notably recalled Rubio's reaffirmation of the US support for Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces, and the country's position in favor of the 'genuine autonomy' and a 'mutually acceptable solution' that the US is prepared to actively facilitate. De Mistura stressed that the US statements echo 'what I believe and what I am calling for – the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative must be explained in detail, and a clear meaning must be given to the prerogatives that would be granted to a truly autonomous Western Sahara.' The UN envoy stressed that the next three months should serve as an opportunity to confirm 'how this new momentum, based on renewed active engagement from some Council members, including permanent ones, can lead to regional de-escalation,' he said. The new statement reflects a remarkable shift in tone and a more engaged posture toward the Moroccan autonomy initiative. A call for detailed discussions suggests the envoy and the UN's willingness to move beyond the traditional approaches taken throughout the past decades, signaling that the international body is ready to engage with the autonomy initiative as a political framework. The UN Security Council and its permanent members have long emphasized the importance of the initiative as part of Morocco's efforts, describing it as a serious and credible political solution. However, de Mistrua's remarks show that Morocco's stance has become clearer and firmer, stressing that negotiations can only take place within the framework of the Moroccan autonomy initiative under Moroccan sovereignty over its southern provinces. Notably absent from reports on de Mistura's speech were references to self-determination or referendum, longstanding demands by the Polisario Front and its primary backer, Algeria. This omission is likely to strike another nerve among pro-Polisario supporters, who continue to push outdated claims to challenge Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara. Algeria's regime, which harbors the Polisario Front on its soil, received new blows to its maneuvers, with both the US and France reiterating their unchangeable and unwavering support for Morocco's territorial integrity. Last week, US Secretary Rubio explicitly stated that 'genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only feasible solution,' while pledging to facilitate progress toward this objective. The Secretary urged parties to 'engage in discussions without delay, using Morocco's Autonomy Proposal as the only framework to negotiate a mutually acceptable solution.' Lisa Kenna, US Under Secretary, reinforced her country's position during a meeting with de Mistura earlier this week, noting that the US position confirms the viability of the genuine autonomy under Mosotocco's sovereignty as the only feasible political solution to the dispute. France echoed the same stance in a statement today, with the Quai d'Orsay noting that France's position on Western Sahara is unchanged. France reiterated its position, recalling the letter Emmanuel Macron sent to King Mohammed VI in July last year, stating that 'the present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.' The Autonomy Initiative has received support from over 100 countries in the international community, viewing it as a good basis to put an end to the longstanding and prolonged regional dispute amid Algeria's reluctance to assume its responsibility or engage in the UN-led political process. Among other developments that de Mistura mentioned during the briefing was the short-lived reconciliation between France and Algeria. Tensions between the two countries have escalated due to Algeria's reluctance to accept the return of its nationals subject to deportation orders by Paris. The two countries had shown brief signs of improving ties, but tensions flared again when Algeria's regime ordered 12 staff members of the French embassy to leave its territory within 48 hours. This came after France detained a consulate agent in France on Saturday. De Mistura briefed the council on what he described as a normalization of ties between Paris and Algiers in early April. AFP, however, noted that tensions have since resurfaced between the two countries. De Mistura also recalled that no improvement in relations between Algeria and Morocco took place. Morocco has been calling on Algeria's regime to engage in a frank and direct dialogue under the King Mohammed VI initiative to tackle the political stalemate. Algeria, however, turned a deaf ear to the initiative and has long sought to undermine Morocco's territorial integrity through its unwavering support for the Polisario separatist claims. Beyond Western Sahara, Algeria's regime intensified accusations against Morocco, which prompted Algiers' decision to cut ties with Rabat in 2021. Tags: Algeria and the Western Saharastaffan de mistura
Ya Biladi
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Western Sahara : Ahead of Mistura's visit, Polisario reiterates its demands
In the coming days, the UN Secretary-General's personal envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, will visit the Tindouf camps, the Polisario's permanent secretariat announced in a statement released on Friday, March 27. «As we await Staffan de Mistura's visit to the Sahrawi side», the Polisario Front «reaffirms its commitment to constructive cooperation with the United Nations to advance the political process. This process must lead to the decolonization of Western Sahara, ensuring the Sahrawi people their inalienable right to self-determination and independence», the statement added. Earlier this week, De Mistura began his regional tour by meeting with key parties to the Western Sahara dispute, starting with a visit to Rabat. On Monday, he held talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Ambassador Omar Hilale, Morocco's permanent representative to the UN. During the meeting, the Moroccan delegation emphasized «the international momentum led by King Mohammed VI in support of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative», the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. In the coming weeks, De Mistura is expected to brief the UN Security Council on the latest political developments regarding the Sahara, following the adoption of Resolution 2756 on October 31, 2024.
