France shifts Western Sahara stance, seeking closer ties with Morocco
Polisario Front soldiers during a shooting exercise near Mehaires, Western Sahara on October 13, 2021. (Photo by Bernat Armangue via AP)
France’s President Emmanuel Macron’s letter, made public on Tuesday, emphasized France’s commitment to Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
“The present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,” Macron wrote.
He affirmed that France would consistently support this stance both nationally and internationally.
France has officially supported Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, marking a significant shift from its decades-old position.
In a letter to King Mohammed VI, Macron endorsed Morocco’s 2007 proposal, calling it the “only basis” for resolving the conflict. This move aligns France with the United States, Israel, Spain, and several African nations, further isolating the pro-independence Polisario Front.
France backs Morocco’s autonomy plan for disputed area
France has backed Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara, shifting a decades-old position.
Reactions from Algeria and Polisario Front
The Polisario Front and Algeria have preemptively criticized France’s decision. Mohamed Sidati, foreign minister of the self-declared Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, accused France of supporting Moroccan expansionism and acting against international law. Algeria labeled France and Morocco as “colonial powers” and condemned the French decision as politically motivated and legally unjustified.
France’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan is a “significant development,” according to a statement from King Mohammed VI’s Royal Cabinet. A high-ranking Moroccan official described it as a “game-changer” given France’s role as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.
This international shift toward Morocco’s position could have far-reaching implications for the stalled peace process in Western Sahara.
