Emmanuel Macron supports Moroccan plan for Western Sahara, “only basis” for conflict resolution

France took an important step towards Morocco on Tuesday, July 30, by strengthening its support for the Moroccan plan for Western Sahara. Paris now considers this plan as “the only basis” to resolve the conflict with the Polisario separatists, which is almost 50 years old.

Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is controlled largely by Morocco, which is proposing an autonomy plan under its sovereignty. But it is claimed by the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front, who are demanding a referendum on self-determination. The UN considers this territory, with its rich fish waters and significant phosphate reserves, as a “non-self-governing territory”.

Without expressly recognizing the “Moroccanness” of the territory, Emmanuel Macron declared Monday, in a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his enthronement, that he considers that “the present and future of Western Sahara are part of Moroccan sovereignty.” “For France, autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue must be resolved. Our support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 is clear and constant.”he adds in this letter, of which AFP obtained a copy.

The gesture was expected by Morocco, for whom the Sahara issue is a “national cause” and whose relations with France had cooled considerably in recent years. The Moroccan Royal Cabinet welcomed a “important and significant development in support of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara”.

Emmanuel Macron’s position, however, was criticized by Algeria, a supporter of the Polisario Front. The government announced on Tuesday that “withdrawal with immediate effect” of his ambassador to France, accusing Paris of having made his decision “with great levity and nonchalance, without lucidly measuring all the potential repercussions”.