Sarah Zaaimi
On Tuesday, France moved toward recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territories of Western Sahara in a historic diplomatic shift for Paris and a major diplomatic victory for Rabat. Morocco’s neighbor Algeria was quick to signal its displeasure, saying that France’s decision was “the result of a dubious political calculation” and a “morally questionable judgment.” Will this realignment turn the page of the long-running Sahara conflict once and for all? Or will it further destabilize an already volatile region?
The news broke after the Moroccan royal palace released a communiqué that referenced a letter from French President Emmanuel Macron to the king of Morocco on the commemoration of the silver jubilee of his coronation. The letter states that the “present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.” In his correspondence with the Moroccan king, Macron added that “France intends to act consistently with this position at both national and international levels.” Although the French position explicitly references Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, it will need more clarification and translation into concrete policies in the coming months.
Nonetheless, the French decision is particularly significant given its colonial past in North Africa and its shared responsibility with Spain in largely determining the postcolonial borders of Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania. These borders are the origin of many of the current territorial disputes in the region. France’s endorsement of the Moroccan autonomy plan this week follows similar support from Spain in 2022 and recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara expressed by the United States in 2020 and Israel in 2023, along with a growing list of Arab and African nations.
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