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Morocco World
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Algeria Pressures Spain to Change Its Stance on Western Sahara
Rabat – Algeria is once again trying to push Spain to reconsider its support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara. On Wednesday, the president of the lower house of the Algerian Parliament, Ibrahim Boughali, urged Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to take a step back from the pro-Moroccan position his government adopted in 2022. Boughali made this request during a meeting with Spain's ambassador to Algeria, Fernando Moran, according to Algerian media. He expressed his 'regret over Spain's sudden change of position on the Western Sahara issue,' calling on Madrid to 'return to its historically neutral stance' on the matter, Akhbar Dzair reported . He also suggested strengthening parliamentary ties between the two countries. However, despite these desperate diplomatic efforts, Spain has not shown any sign of changing its position. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares reaffirmed earlier this month that Madrid would remain committed to its roadmap with Morocco. Algerian media have recently been suggesting that Spain is having second thoughts about its position on Western Sahara, but the reality tells a different story. While Algeria continues to lobby against Morocco's autonomy plan, Spain has not wavered. The joint declaration signed by Spain and Morocco on April 7, 2022, clearly states that Spain considers Morocco's autonomy proposal as the 'most serious, realistic, and credible basis' for resolving the Sahara dispute. In addition, Spain continues to express its dedication to elevating relations with Morocco. Albares reaffirmed this stance on Tuesday, just two days after Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune spoke about 'normalizing' relations with Spain. Despite these diplomatic pressures, Madrid has not responded to Algeria's repeated calls to reconsider its position. The fact that Algeria continues its efforts to convince Spain to change its stance suggests that its lobbying efforts have not been successful, contrary to what Algerian media have been reporting. Rather than showing a shift in Spain's position, Algeria's continued dissatisfaction highlights the failure of its strategy to reverse the Spanish government's embrace of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan. For now, Madrid remains firm in its support for Morocco's proposal and stands by its commitment to a strong partnership with Rabat. Morocco has been enjoying significant diplomatic gains and growing international support regarding the Western Sahara issue, especially after France's endorsement of the country's autonomy plan last year. Tags: AlgeriaSaharaSpainWestern sahara
Ya Biladi
22-03-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
US Think Tank urges Trump to halt MINURSO funding in Sahara
Do Trump's budget cuts threaten MINURSO's operations? This is the pressing question as an influential American think tank, closely aligned with the Republican Party, urges President Donald Trump to cut U.S. funding for what it deems ineffective UN peacekeeping missions. «Trump and the U.N. could save billions by eliminating failed peacekeeping operations», argues the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). A Mission Stalled for Over Three Decades The AEI highlights Western Sahara as a prime example, pointing to MINURSO, the UN mission established in 1991 to facilitate a self-determination referendum. More than 30 years and billions of dollars later, the mission has yet to fulfill its mandate. «Thirty-four years and billions of dollars later, MINURSO has not even conducted a census. It makes excuses, some valid and others not, but time marches on», the think tank states in its report. In fact, as early as January 2000, the UN disbanded the commission responsible for identifying voters for the referendum. After six years of work, only 2,130 out of 51,220 applicants had been registered, illustrating the deep-seated challenges in the process. The AEI's argument is not new. In 2018, John Bolton, Trump's former national security adviser, had already called for greater accountability from MINURSO. However, the AEI now presents an additional reason for defunding the mission: it contradicts the U.S. recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a decision made by Trump in December 2020. From this perspective, the AEI argues that continuing to fund MINURSO undermines the American position and conflicts with the principles of the Abraham Accords. A Harsh Critique of the Polisario and the UN Taking a distinctly pro-Moroccan stance, the think tank claims that «the Sahrawi themselves also wish to join Morocco», but that the Polisario Front, with Algeria's backing, is blocking them. The AEI further alleges that refugees in the Tindouf camps in Algeria are prevented from reuniting with their families in Morocco. The report goes even further, accusing the UN of «perpetuating the problem» by funding these camps and legitimizing the Polisario. This sharp critique has reignited debates over MINURSO's future. In the coming weeks, the issue will be brought before the UN Security Council, where the Trump administration will have to clarify its stance. Meanwhile, media outlets sympathetic to the Polisario are speculating about a potential shift in Washington's position.
