Morocco rejects proposal to partition Western Sahara, says foreign minister

Morocco has firmly rejected any suggestion of partitioning Western Sahara, declaring the matter non-negotiable, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said during a joint press conference with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna in Rabat.

Bourita’s comments come in response to media reports regarding a proposal attributed to United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, suggesting the division of the disputed territory between Morocco and the Polisario Front. The proposal reportedly involves the creation of a state in the south for the Polisario Front, with Morocco retaining control in the north.

“The Moroccan delegation made it clear at the time that such proposals and ideas are rejected, have not been considered, and will not be entertained,” Bourita said, referring to de Mistura’s visit to Morocco in April. He emphasized that Rabat views Western Sahara as an “integral part” of Morocco and would not engage in discussions on partition.

Bourita further stated that Morocco’s negotiations regarding Western Sahara are not with the Polisario Front but rather pertain to a regional dispute with neighboring Algeria, which supports the independence-seeking group. “The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Morocco concerning Western Sahara will never be part of any negotiation or agreement,” Bourita stressed.

He also questioned the origin of de Mistura’s proposal, suggesting that the UN envoy should clarify whether it was his own initiative or influenced by external actors. “De Mistura needs to explain where this proposal came from and who inspired or encouraged it,” Bourita added.

The reports regarding de Mistura’s suggestion surfaced last week, with some news outlets attributing the idea of partition to the UN envoy. The Polisario Front has been campaigning for Western Sahara’s independence since Morocco annexed the former Spanish colony in 1975.

Tensions between Morocco and the Polisario Front have persisted since the 1970s, with Algeria backing the independence movement. A ceasefire, brokered by the UN in 1991, ended years of armed conflict between the Polisario Front and Moroccan forces, but negotiations over the region’s final status have stalled.

Since then, several rounds of UN-mediated talks have taken place, including roundtable discussions held in Geneva in 2018 and 2019, involving Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania. However, a third meeting planned for May 2019 was canceled after the resignation of the former UN envoy, Horst Köhler, due to health reasons.

Staffan de Mistura succeeded Köhler in 2021, tasked with reviving talks. However, efforts have been hampered by Algeria’s decision in October 2021 to withdraw from the UN roundtable meetings.

Morocco continues to assert its sovereignty over Western Sahara, while the Polisario Front insists on establishing an independent state, leaving the decades-long conflict unresolved.