Belgian Lawmaker Urges Support for Morocco’s Sahara Autonomy Plan

"Since the departure of the Spaniards in 1975, this region has been disputed between Morocco and the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria, which demands its independence. Since then, it has been a stalemate. Yet this is detrimental both politically and economically for the entire Maghreb, but also for Europe, as it could be a strategic development area for renewable energies, in particular. Many companies are blocked in their initiatives," analyzed Hugues Bayet in an interview with Trends Tendances.

The apolitical Committee for the autonomy of Western Sahara - which includes academics, trade unionists, cultural figures - that he coordinates with his colleague Frédérique Ries (MR) says it is in favor of a diplomatic solution, without being pro-Moroccan or anti-Algerian. "For the moment, as the UN has reiterated, there is only one serious, credible and realistic proposal, and that is the Moroccan proposal to grant autonomy to Western Sahara. Several countries, including France, Spain or the Netherlands, are advocating for work to be done on the basis of this plan," he recalled. The committee’s wish, the elected official said, is for Belgium to do the same.

"We will send a letter at the beginning of this week to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo (Open VLD) and the party presidents so that Belgium also supports this avenue," he said, noting that the situation is certainly not easy for the federal government with the withdrawal of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sophie Wilmès (MR), for private reasons. "Yet we certainly have experience to draw on with our experience in federalism and things to bring to the debate. Our Committee aims to be a spur on this issue. We will only be able to solve this problem by bringing together all the goodwill," he is convinced.

According to Hugues Bayet, it is essential to find a solution for the populations there, but also for Morocco, Algeria or Tunisia, which are fragile democracies. "A settlement of this frozen conflict should, according to estimates, lead to an increase in GDP of the order of 3 to 4%. For Europe, Western Sahara and the entire region have significant potential in terms of renewable energy. [...] There is no other solution, otherwise it is war."