French President Emanuel Macron has recognised Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Saraha region, thus fuelling political tension with Algeria.
In a letter addressed to the King of Morocco Mohammed VI, Macron stated: “The present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.”
He reinforced support for the 2007 Moroccan plan for Western Sahara, which he said was now seen as “the only basis” for resolving the nearly 50-year-old conflict with the Polisario Front independence movement. The rebel Sahrawi nationalist liberation group claims Western Sahara.
On July 30, the French President wrote: “Our support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 is clear and unwavering. For France, this is now the only basis for a just, lasting and negotiated political solution per the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
“It’s time to move forward. I therefore encourage all parties to meet with a view to a political settlement, which is within reach,” Macron said.
The French position is likely to strain relations between France and Algeria.
Just prior to Macron’s letter, Algeria had expressed its “disapproval” of Paris’ stance on the Western Sahara issue.
In a press release, the Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, labelled France’s decision “unexpected, ill-timed and counter-productive”.
He warned that the Algerian Government “will draw all the consequences arising from this French decision”.
France’s French-Moroccan culture minister Rachida Dati described Macron’s move as “a major and positive development which reinforces the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco”.
La position du Président de la République @EmmanuelMacron est une évolution majeure et positive qui conforte la #souveraineté du Royaume du #Maroc
Moment historique 🇲🇦 🇫🇷— Rachida Dati ن (@datirachida) July 30, 2024
Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony controlled for the most part by Morocco. It is claimed by the Polisario, supported by Algeria, which is calling for a referendum on self-determination that was scheduled during a ceasefire in 1991 but never held.
France’s outlook regarding the situation has been echoed by other leaders including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez who backed the 15-year-old Moroccan autonomy plan for Westen Sahara in 2022.
