Claims, origins, desires… Three things to know about the crisis surrounding Western Sahara, this coveted territory in the south of Morocco

This territory has been the subject of tensions and tensions for nearly 50 years. France considered on Tuesday that the Moroccan plan was “the only basis” for resolving the conflict, provoking the anger of Algeria.

While Western Sahara has been at the heart of international tensions for decades, France took a step towards Morocco on Tuesday, July 30, which already controls 80% of this territory. In a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his enthronement, Emmanuel Macron, considered that the Moroccan plan was “the only basis” of the conflict resolution. “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 wrote.

A statement that thus accentuates tensions with Algeria, which for its part supports complete autonomy for Western Sahara. Franceinfo explains the three things you need to know to understand the diplomatic crisis surrounding this coveted territory.

A territory without definitive status since 1976

Western Sahara is a territory of 266,000 km², located in the south of Morocco, with Algeria to the northeast and Mauritania to the east and south, which borders the Atlantic Ocean. A former Spanish colony, it is the only territory on the African continent whose postcolonial status remains pending. The country is considered a “non-self-governing territory” by the UN, in the absence of a final settlement.

Since 1991, Morocco has controlled and administered approximately 80% of the territory, and proposes a large autonomy under its sovereignty. The remaining 20% ​​is controlled by the Polisario Front, a political and armed movement founded in Mauritania. It demands a referendum on complete self-determination, under the aegis of the UN, planned when a ceasefire was signed in 1991, but never materialized.

Subject of tensions between Morocco and Algeria

Other countries, before France’s declaration, supported Morocco’s proposal. In 2020, US President Donald Trump recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over this territory, in exchange for a rapprochement with Israel. In 2022, it was Spain, the former colonial power in the Sahara, which abandoned its neutrality and rallied to Rabat. Morocco is also very attentive to the support, or lack thereof, given to its project. In 2022, for example, the country recalled its ambassador to Tunis, while during a Japan-Africa summit, the Tunisian president received the leader of the Polisario Front.

Algeria, a neighboring country of Western Sahara, supports the Polisario Front. Enough to fuel tensions with Morocco, which increased in 2021. That year, Algeria announced that it was cutting diplomatic relations with Morocco, after several incidents. A hostility that also affects countries that support Morocco.

In response to Emmanuel Macron’s statement, Algiers decided on Tuesday July 30th “immediate withdrawal” of its ambassador in Paris. France “flouts international legality, takes up the cause of the denial of the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination”denounces Algeria. For its part, France says “having taken note of Algeria’s decision”, Franceinfo learned from a diplomatic source. “France remains determined to continue deepening its bilateral relationship with Algeria”assures the same source.

Major economic challenges

If the recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty is very symbolic for the country, it above all represents economic issues. Western Sahara’s coastline, located on the Atlantic coast, is rich in fish. Pastoralism, fishing and phosphate mining account for more than half of the territory’s exports.

Western Sahara is thus one of the largest known phosphate reserves in the world to date.