Latest news with #Rabat
Russia Today
3 hours ago
- Business
- Russia Today
UK backs controversial autonomy offer for African region
The UK has endorsed Morocco's plan to grant limited autonomy to Western Sahara, ending decades of official neutrality in one of the most protracted territorial disputes in the North African region. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the shift during a visit to Morocco's capital, Rabat, on Sunday, where he met with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, and signed a series of cooperation agreements, including in infrastructure, healthcare, and water management. 'The UK… considers Morocco's autonomy proposal, submitted in 2007 as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute,' Lammy said, according to a joint statement published on the British government's website following the talks. The Western Sahara conflict has persisted since Morocco annexed the territory in 1975 following Spain's withdrawal. A UN-brokered ceasefire was established in 1991, but efforts to hold a referendum on the region's status have stalled. In April 2007, Morocco submitted its Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara to the UN Security Council. According to the proposal, Rabat intends to delegate administrative, legislative, and judicial powers to local residents while retaining the Moroccan flag and currency. Morocco would also be in charge of the phosphate-rich region's foreign policy, security, and defense. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, has pushed for full independence and seeks a UN-backed referendum – an idea Morocco has rejected. A year ago, a group of British lawmakers wrote to then-Foreign Secretary David Cameron, urging the government to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the sparsely populated region. They described Rabat's proposal as the 'only realistic and pragmatic' option, noting its consistency with British trade policy and regional stability goals. On Sunday, the UK foreign secretary said a resolution to the Western Sahara dispute is long overdue, adding that it 'would strengthen the stability of North Africa and the relaunch of the bilateral dynamic and regional integration.' The move makes the UK the third permanent member of the UN Security Council, after the US and France, to support Rabat's position. Algeria, which supports an independent Sahrawi state, said on Sunday it 'regrets the choice made by the United Kingdom to support the Moroccan autonomy plan.' It accused Morocco of attempting to use the proposal to delay a political settlement and legitimize 'the illegal occupation of Western Sahara.' The former French colony previously responded strongly to similar endorsements, withdrawing its ambassador from Paris after France backed Morocco's autonomy plan in 2024.
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
UK swings behind Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara
The UK has thrown its weight behind Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara, marking a shift in Britain's position on one of Africa's longest-running territorial disputes. Speaking during a visit to Rabat on Sunday, the foreign secretary, David Lammy, said Britain considered Morocco's 2007 autonomy proposal 'the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis' for resolving the dispute. The UK has previously said the status of the disputed territory in north-west Africa remains 'undetermined', while supporting 'self-determination' for 'the people of Western Sahara'. The disputed region has a population of about 600,000 people, and is considered a non-self-governing territory by the UN. While Morocco controls most of the territory, the Algerian-backed Polisario front control land in the east of the territory and want full independence from Rabat. Under Morocco's autonomy plan, Western Sahara would remain under Rabat's sovereignty, but with a degree of self-rule. The US recognised Morocco's claim over Western Sahara in 2020 during Trump's first administration. France followed suit last year, along with Spain in 2021. 'The UK will continue to act bilaterally, including economically, regionally and internationally in line with this position to support the resolution of the conflict,' Lammy said after talks with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita. The region has been contested since 1975, when Spain withdrew from its former colony, sparking a conflict between Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front. A UN-brokered ceasefire was reached in 1991, with promises of a referendum on the territory's future that has never materialised. Talks have since stalled, and in 2020 the Polisario declared the truce over, accusing Morocco of violating its terms. Algeria, a key regional player, has previously criticised Rabat's plan and US support for the proposals. Bourita described the UK's endorsement as part of 'a momentum to speed up the solution of the conflict'. He said British investments in Western Sahara were under discussion. The two countries also signed cooperation deals on healthcare, innovation, ports, water infrastructure and procurement. Lammy said the partnerships would allow 'British businesses to score big on football's biggest stage', a reference to Morocco's preparations to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. The UN still officially supports a negotiated solution that would allow the people of Western Sahara to decide whether to become independent or remain part of Morocco.
Washington Post
17 hours ago
- Business
- Washington Post
UK latest country to back Morocco's plan in disputed Western Sahara
RABAT, Morocco — The United Kingdom on Sunday became the latest country to back Morocco's position on the disputed Western Sahara, calling its plan to keep the territory under Moroccan control 'the most credible, viable and pragmatic' way to resolve the decades-long conflict. At a joint press conference in Morocco's capital, British Foreign Minister David Lammy said the United Kingdom was changing its position to support Morocco's plan to offer the area limited autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. He and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita lauded the two countries' ties on security and trade, noting Morocco's role as co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
UK latest country to back Morocco's plan in disputed Western Sahara
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — The United Kingdom on Sunday became the latest country to back Morocco's position on the disputed Western Sahara, calling its plan to keep the territory under Moroccan control 'the most credible, viable and pragmatic' way to resolve the decades-long conflict. At a joint press conference in Morocco's capital, British Foreign Minister David Lammy said the United Kingdom was changing its position to support Morocco's plan to offer the area limited autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. He and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita lauded the two countries' ties on security and trade, noting Morocco's role as co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. "The time for a resolution and to move this issue forward is long-overdue, and would strengthen the stability of North Africa," Lammy said. He also reiterated support for the United Nations-led process and called on Morocco to 'expand on details of what autonomy within the Moroccan State could entail for the region.' Western Sahara is a strip of coastal desert rich in phosphates and fish that the United Nations has considered a 'non-self-governing territory' throughout almost 50 years of dispute. It's claimed by both Morocco and Polisario, a pro-independence group that operates out of refugee camps in southwestern Algeria. The shift fulfills one of Morocco's primary foreign policy objectives and makes the United Kingdom the third permanent member of the United Nations Security Council to back its position, following France and the United States. Since 1991, the United Nations has administered a peacekeeping mission designed to hold a referendum to determine the status of the disputed territory, all of which is under Morocco's control except for a small sliver near the Algerian border. After years of conflict, the area has recently emerged as a hotspot for investment, drawing European and American firms interested in fishing, agriculture and infrastructure projects that would allow for the transmission of wind and solar power. As negotiations have stalled, Morocco has invested heavily in the region and sought support from trade partners. Polisario has taken its fight to international courts, arguing that Morocco does not have the right to trade resources belonging to the Sahrawi people while the conflict remains unresolved. The countries exchange billions of dollars worth of cars, fruits and vegetables. The two are partnering on XLinks, a renewable energy storage and transmission project whose backers hope will power millions of British homes. The British shift angered Algeria, Morocco's regional rival, which in a statement on Sunday blasted Morocco's plan as 'empty of content and incapable of contributing to a serious and credible settlement of the conflict.' Polisario Front representatives didn't respond to questions about the United Kingdom's stance.
Associated Press
17 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
UK latest country to back Morocco's plan in disputed Western Sahara
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — The United Kingdom on Sunday became the latest country to back Morocco's position on the disputed Western Sahara, calling its plan to keep the territory under Moroccan control 'the most credible, viable and pragmatic' way to resolve the decades-long conflict. At a joint press conference in Morocco's capital, British Foreign Minister David Lammy said the United Kingdom was changing its position to support Morocco's plan to offer the area limited autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. He and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita lauded the two countries' ties on security and trade, noting Morocco's role as co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. 'The time for a resolution and to move this issue forward is long-overdue, and would strengthen the stability of North Africa,' Lammy said. He also reiterated support for the United Nations-led process and called on Morocco to 'expand on details of what autonomy within the Moroccan State could entail for the region.' Western Sahara is a strip of coastal desert rich in phosphates and fish that the United Nations has considered a 'non-self-governing territory' throughout almost 50 years of dispute. It's claimed by both Morocco and Polisario, a pro-independence group that operates out of refugee camps in southwestern Algeria. The shift fulfills one of Morocco's primary foreign policy objectives and makes the United Kingdom the third permanent member of the United Nations Security Council to back its position, following France and the United States. Since 1991, the United Nations has administered a peacekeeping mission designed to hold a referendum to determine the status of the disputed territory, all of which is under Morocco's control except for a small sliver near the Algerian border. After years of conflict, the area has recently emerged as a hotspot for investment, drawing European and American firms interested in fishing, agriculture and infrastructure projects that would allow for the transmission of wind and solar power. As negotiations have stalled, Morocco has invested heavily in the region and sought support from trade partners. Polisario has taken its fight to international courts, arguing that Morocco does not have the right to trade resources belonging to the Sahrawi people while the conflict remains unresolved. The countries exchange billions of dollars worth of cars, fruits and vegetables. The two are partnering on XLinks, a renewable energy storage and transmission project whose backers hope will power millions of British homes. The British shift angered Algeria, Morocco's regional rival, which in a statement on Sunday blasted Morocco's plan as 'empty of content and incapable of contributing to a serious and credible settlement of the conflict.' Polisario Front representatives didn't respond to questions about the United Kingdom's stance.
