Latest news with #WesternSahara
Telegraph
15 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Political tides in Africa are shifting: Britain must be clear who its friends are
While the world's attention has understandably been focussed on events in Ukraine and Gaza, the Foreign Secretary 's recent visit to Morocco saw Britain seize the initiative on a diplomatic issue that has been neglected by the international community for nearly half a century; that of the status of Western Sahara, under administration by Morocco since 1975, but whose sovereignty over the region has been disputed by the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, sometimes violently, for decades. This example of British diplomatic engagement is particularly significant in the context of the new Strategic Defence Review, and the British Government's stated aim of enhancing national security through economic growth. This vast territory of more than 100,000 square miles is home to 565,000 people – a population roughly the size of Leeds, spread across an area bigger than the United Kingdom, although largely concentrated in the town of Laayoune, the regional capital, and Dakhla, the largest and fastest growing container port on the east Atlantic coast. Morocco has invested heavily and imaginatively in the Western Sahara, providing tens of thousands of new jobs, and the prospect of many more to come, yet its full economic development has been held back by a frozen territorial dispute, which has contributed to a deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Tindouf refugee camps in Algeria. Under an encouragingly wide-ranging partnership agreement signed this week between London and Rabat, the UK has, for the first time, acknowledged the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting peace in the Western Sahara. The autonomy plan, first presented to the United Nations in 2007, represents the only credible, lasting solution for peace in the Western Sahara. Under its provisions, an autonomous region would be established within the Moroccan State, with Morocco taking responsibility for defence and foreign affairs, but with local control over law enforcement, taxation, infrastructure, economic development, cultural affairs and the environment. By accepting the broad principles of the autonomy plan, UK diplomacy at last moves into line with other key western allies including France, Spain and the United States, shifts the dial at the UN Security Council and within the General Assembly and lays the ground for a definitive, permanent resolution of the dispute. Such a resolution is in the best interests of the people of the Western Sahara, and it is by far the best hope of bringing prosperity, and economic and human development to that region, and wider. UK support for the Moroccan autonomy plan, in conjunction with a comprehensive range of other cultural and economic initiatives of great mutual benefit, seems to be firmly in line with the Foreign Secretary's declared diplomatic approach of 'progressive realism'. It demonstrates a recognition by the FCDO that the political tides in Africa are shifting once again, and that the UK needs to be clear-sighted about who its friends are, which countries can be trusted and reliable partners, and which countries are offering opportunities for the continent's potential and solutions to its challenges. In this respect, Morocco has proved to be a bulwark against terrorism, extremism, serious crime, illegal migration and the destabilising activities of Russia's and Iran's proxies in sub-Saharan Africa – and the autonomy plan offers further, exciting economic opportunity and potential. It is security, stability and prosperity that will help address the humanitarian issues of the refugee camps, undermine the poisonous appeal of extremism and slow migration, and offer hope. Those that oppose this move, with an insistence on perpetuating a deadlock, have their own vested interests that offer nothing to the people of the region. Supporting stability in the Sahara is politically and diplomatically the right thing to do, but our support for Morocco and its ambitions in the region also will unlock huge economic opportunities for British companies, and this UK-Moroccan partnership includes a £5 billion facility from UK Export Finance, which in turn will drive faster economic growth across the region. Trade with Morocco is already a quiet success story for Britain, and trade between our two countries has already almost doubled since 2018, to over £4.2 billion in 2024. Morocco plays an important role in ensuring supermarkets are stocked year-round, without competing with our own farmers and fishermen, and tomatoes, sardines and soft fruit are among our biggest imports. Britain's ambition of becoming a clean energy superpower can be boosted by access to landmark projects in solar, wind and green hydrogen through this new partnership. UK companies can also play a significant role in equipping Morocco's healthcare system with digital tools, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, while there are new safeguards against the counterfeiting of British brands. I would hope that further defence engagement opportunities were also discussed in these meetings – not simply defence sales and training, but the possibility of greater cooperation in the eastern Atlantic to address new maritime challenges. Britain and Morocco have been engaged with each other for over 800 years. The first Moroccan ambassador came to London in 1600 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and our first trade treaty was signed over 300 years ago. We are now moving into a new era, looking to address challenges and seize opportunities together. Last year, the Foreign Secretary spoke of a reset in relations between Britain and Africa, and a strategic engagement with the continent grounded in 'progressive realism'. The UK's re-energised partnership with Morocco, putting security, stability and prosperity at the forefront of this engagement, proves that those sentiments were not just words.
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
UK backs Morocco's claim to disputed Western Sahara
The UK now recognises Morocco 's claim to the disputed Western Sahara, aligning with countries like Israel, France, and Germany. This shift in UK foreign policy is part of a new economic partnership with Morocco, aimed at giving British companies priority in infrastructure projects, including those for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. The economic deal is expected to unlock contracts worth around £33bn over the next three years in sectors like water, health, and trade, including a £1.2bn Casablanca airport project. The partnership includes collaboration on Morocco's national healthcare transformation, potentially creating opportunities for the UK health sector and a new £150m hospital project. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that endorsing autonomy within the Moroccan state is the most viable solution to the Western Sahara dispute, supporting conflict resolution and self-determination while strengthening the UK's economic ties with Morocco.
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
Starmer changes 50 years of foreign policy to land £33bn deal with Morocco
Keir Starmer 's government has announced a major change in UK foreign policy towards Africa in exchange for an economic deal with one of the continent's fastest-growing economies. After five decades of the Western Sahara region being disputed by the Moroccan government the UK government has agreed for the first time to join Israel, France and Germany in supporting the north African kingdom's claim to the territory. Since the end of Spanish rule in 1975, there has been a long-running dispute between Morocco and an independence movement the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Río de Oro (Polisario Front). But in a deal which puts British companies front of the queue to deliver infrastructure for the 2030 FIFA World Cup as well as other major projects, the government has ended decades of staying out of the the controversy. The deal with Moroccan ministries of water, health, and trade will unlock contracts in a market where public procurement opportunities are estimated at around £33bn over the next three years, including a £1.2bn Casablanca Airport project, with UK companies a key part of Morocco's 'Airports 2030' programme. Agreement to partner with Morocco's national healthcare transformation reforms, worth over £2bn, will create opportunities for UK health sector and a new £150m hospital project, for UK finance and clinical expertise to deliver a 250-bed hospital in Casablanca, will drive revenue for an NHS trust. The UK strengthened partnership with Morocco advances a relationship already worth over £4 billion annually and unlocking opportunities for UK businesses during Foreign Secretary visit to Morocco, ahead of 2030 World Cup. Mr Lammy said: 'Africa has one of the greatest growth potentials of any continent - this young, dynamic population makes the continent an engine room for growth. 'Growth and prosperity will underpin our relationship Morocco and beyond, helping forge new opportunities at home and abroad. He added: 'The UK has chosen to endorse autonomy within the Moroccan state as the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis for a mutually-agreed and lasting solution to the Western Sahara dispute, one that can deliver on our commitments to conflict resolution in the region and self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.' The recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara after 50 years is linked to supporting the autonomy plan for the region which would allow for a degree of self rule. Trade minister Douglas Alexander said: "Morocco is becoming an increasingly important trade and investment partner for the UK. 'Growth is this government's top priority and stronger ties with economies like Morocco will pave the way for new opportunities, supporting British businesses and creating jobs. 'UK companies are already securing major commercial wins in Morocco, playing a vital role in delivering critical infrastructure for the 2030 World Cup.'
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Western Sahara: UK backs Morocco's plan for disputed territory to win World Cup deal
The UK has backed Morocco's plan for ending a territorial conflict in Western Sahara, as part of a deal that will secure lucrative investment projects in the 2030 men's football World decades British governments have refused to take sides over who should control Western Sahara, which is considered a "non-self-governing territory" by the UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has announced the UK now supports a plan that would give Western Sahara autonomy but Morocco ultimate a visit to Moroccan capital Rabat, Lammy said Morocco's autonomy proposal was "the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute". Lammy also signed an agreement to boost collaboration between the two countries on critical infrastructure projects for the World Cup, which Morocco is hosting alongside Spain and Portugal in five years' deal would allow "British businesses to score big on football's biggest stage", Lammy which backs the Western Saharan independence movement, said it "regrets" Lammy's said Morocco's autonomy plan was now 18 years old and had never been submitted to the Sahrawis as a basis for Sahara is a mineral-rich former Spanish colony that has been fought over for five decades in what is one of Africa's longest frozen holds much of the 100,000 sq miles (260,000 sq km) of territory but part is controlled by the Polisario Front, an armed group seeking independence for the local Sahrawi recent years, various countries have backed Morocco's position, including the United States, Spain, France, Germany and the diplomats said the UK had decided to follow suit but only in return for business deals and a new commitment from Morocco to support the principle of self-determination, publish a new version of its autonomy plan and restart negotiations.A procurement agreement between the two countries will "create a unique foundation for UK companies to access public tenders in Morocco", the UK Foreign Office said, pointing to deals in the health sector as well as contracts to upgrade Casablanca's joint communique reaffirmed both sides' respect for "the non-use of force for the settlement of conflicts and their support for the principle of respect for self-determination".Previously the UK has always said the status of Western Sahara was "undetermined" and supported "self-determination" for the people Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita welcomed the change in British policy, saying it marked an historic moment in the two nations' 800-year-old relationship. "It represents a genuine pivot toward a definitive resolution of the dispute," he said the deals signed in Rabat would "directly benefit British business". "Thanks to our work, British companies will be front of the queue to secure contracts to build Moroccan infrastructure, injecting money into our construction industry and ensuring that British businesses score big on football's biggest stage," he bitter fighting in the 1970s and 80s, the Polisario Front and Morocco agreed various ceasefires in the 1990s but failed to resolve the underlying United Nations has deployed peacekeepers to the region since 1991. However, a long-promised UN-brokered referendum to allow the people of Western Sahara to choose between independence or Moroccan control has never taken place. You may also be interested in: Macron looks on as France's Africa policy crumblesHow Morocco normalised tied with Israel in US-brokered dealReverse migration: Why I'm moving from France to Algeria Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Russia Today
2 days 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.
