Western Sahara

Breaking New Ground: U.K. Endorses Morocco's Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara The dunes of Western Sahara, windswept and steeped in history, recently echoed with a declaration that could reshape the region’s future. The United Kingdom, once a steadfast pillar of neutrality, has thrown its weight behind Morocco’s autonomy plan—a move marking a profound shift in the tapestry of this intricate geopolitical narrative. A Bold New Step During a significant diplomatic visit to Rabat, U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced…

Former South African President Jacob Zuma’s recent trip to Rabat has reignited a heated debate surrounding Morocco’s claims over Western Sahara. Zuma's endorsement of Morocco’s control as an autonomous region starkly contrasts the pro-independence stance he once held. When Zuma was in office, he championed the Sahrawi people’s quest for freedom—an ideology that still resonates strongly within South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC). Peter Fabricius of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) points…

Diplomatic Tensions: Algeria's Response to France's Support for Moroccan Sovereignty in Western Sahara On Tuesday, Algeria officially recalled its ambassador from France, reacting decisively to Paris’ affirmation of Moroccan control over the Western Sahara region. This isn’t the first time Algeria has adopted such a stance; last year, it took similar actions against Madrid following Spain’s endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy initiative. French President Emmanuel Macron articulated that this recognition stems from the…

Algeria Condemns French Support for Moroccan Sovereignty in Western Sahara On Thursday, Algeria issued a stern denunciation of the French government's decision to endorse Morocco's plans for the autonomy of Western Sahara. According to a recent statement from Algeria’s foreign ministry, the French informed them of this decision in the past few days. The ministry emphasized that Algeria intends to take serious action based on this development, holding the French government entirely accountable. As of now, the French…

On Saturday, March 19, Algiers recalled its ambassador to Spain for "consultation". A sign of protest after the support shown for Rabat's self-government plan in the issue of Western Sahara. By violating its traditional neutrality, Spain evokes contrasting…

After a year of great diplomatic strife, Spain and Morocco normalized their relations on Friday, March 18, thanks to a gesture of support long demanded by Rabat in Madrid on the very sensitive issue of Western Sahara. A turn from Madrid that surprised the…

Spain paved the way on Friday for a solution to a dispute over Western Sahara, which has been claimed by Morocco for almost 50 years, suggesting that making the region operate autonomously under Rabat's rule is "the most serious, realistic and credible" initiative. . This marked a huge departure from Spain's previous position to regard Morocco's grip on Western Sahara as an occupation. The shift followed months of frosty diplomatic relations and led to the announcement of a flurry of visits by Spanish…

Algerian Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra held a press conference on Tuesday to announce that his country has suspended diplomatic relations with Morocco because of its "hostile actions", a week after Algeria said it would review its relations with neighboring countries. The measure comes after Algeria last week said it would review its relations with Morocco after accusing it of complicity in deadly forest fires that ravaged the north of the country. "Algeria has decided to suspend diplomatic…

Algeria is cutting diplomatic relations with Morocco, Foreign Minister Ramdane Lamamra said at a press conference on Tuesday, accusing his neighbor of "hostile actions". Morocco and Algeria have enjoyed strained…

Algiers has decided to recall its ambassador to Rabat for consultation. While the two countries are in conflict with the issue of Western Sahara, Algeria has not at all appreciated the Moroccan ambassador's withdrawal from the UN on the right of self-determination for the Kabyle people. It was during a virtual meeting with…