U.K. Supports Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara
In a transformative shift, the United Kingdom has thrown its weight behind Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan for Western Sahara, moving away from a stance it held for decades. By joining the likes of the U.S., France, and Spain, is the U.K. suggesting that the sands of diplomacy are shifting?
During a Sunday visit to Rabat, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy lauded the Moroccan proposal as undeniably “the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis” for peace in the region. His comments marked a distinct departure from the U.K.’s former position, once rooted in uncertainty regarding the area’s future and strongly supporting self-determination.
Ever since Spain’s withdrawal in 1975, the Western Sahara has been a hotbed of conflict. Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, advocating outright independence, have been at odds over this land—which harbors around 600,000 inhabitants and has been branded by the U.N. as a non-self-governing region. How did it persist for so long?
In this chess game, while Morocco governs most of the territory, the Polisario holds sway in the eastern stretches, persistently demanding a U.N.-sanctioned referendum that seems perpetually postponed. Morocco’s autonomy plan suggests limited self-rule under Moroccan sovereignty, a solution gradually winning international favor.
The U.S., blazing this trail, officially acknowledged Morocco’s territorial claims in 2020, thanks to former President Donald Trump. Not long after, Spain and France followed suit, raising the question: Is broad international recognition merely a matter of time?
Lammy’s visit entailed strategic dialogues with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. Together, they inked several cooperation pacts covering a wide spectrum—health care, water management, port development, procurement, and innovation. Lammy stressed the importance of economic diplomacy, vowing that the U.K. would weave tighter bilateral ties with Morocco within both regional and global frameworks.
Bourita expressed optimism, citing that the U.K.’s endorsement aligns with a growing momentum to hasten resolution efforts. He hinted at plans for British investment in the Western Sahara, portraying a picture of unfolding opportunities that was hard to ignore. “The arc of history is long, but it bends toward investment,” might one say?
As geopolitical tectonics shift, will this unified support herald a new era for the Western Sahara? Only time will reveal its ripples across the diplomatic waters.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
