France chooses its side, Morocco, and provokes the anger of Algeria

In a letter addressed to King Mohamed VI on Tuesday, Emmanuel Macron officially sides with Morocco, which wants to keep control of the territory. Hence the anger of Algeria, which on the contrary supports the Sahrawi separatists.

France has chosen its side. It considers that Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara is now “the only base“to reach a negotiated political solution,” wrote President Emmanuel Macron in a letter addressed to the King of Morocco Mohammed VI made public on Tuesday, July 30 by Rabat and the Élysée. The French position further strains relations between France and Algeria. Algiers has even recalled its ambassador to Paris, and this is not a simple gesture of humor, other retaliatory measures are expected.

Even the President’s state visit Abdelmadjid Tebboune, scheduled for the end of September in Paris, as the culmination of a rapprochement that has been underway for two years, seems compromised. This turnaround by France is an important diplomatic victory for Morocco and a humiliation for Algiers, while until now, Paris had somehow managed to maintain a balanced position.

This Western Sahara issue is a major issue in North Africa. For 50 years, Algeria and Morocco have been in conflict over this issue. The two countries even broke off diplomatic relations in 2021. Western Sahara is a vast expanse of desert, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, desert but rich in phosphate and fish. The Spanish had made it their colony, but since they withdrew in 1976, the conflict has never been resolved and Western Sahara has no status today.

Morocco controls about 80% of it and considers it part of its territory, while the Polisario Front rebels, backed by Algeria, are fighting for independence. The UN proposed a referendum on self-determination more than three decades ago, which was never held.

Morocco has been particularly active in recent years in seeking support. For the Kingdom of Morocco, this is a priority national cause. In 2020, in exchange for a normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel, the United States recognized the Moroccanness of Western Sahara. In 2022, Germany and the Netherlands in turn defended the autonomy plan presented by Rabat, which they presented as the only solution. Spain, traditionally close to Algeria, also broke its neutrality. Its trade with Algiers suffered greatly as a result.

Rabat, which is asking its partners to take a clear position, was impatiently waiting for a partner as close as France to take the step, and it has now been done. The right and the extreme right, which have long been pushing for the Moroccan solution and have never stopped putting pressure on the Élysée, are openly welcoming this.