Former French UN Ambassador Accuses Morocco of Pressuring France over Western Sahara

"In short, it’s the usual Moroccan blackmail on the Western Sahara following the American about-face, while for decades France has been alone in defending Moroccan interests on the Security Council," said the former ambassador.

In response to a tweet questioning France’s reluctance to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, Araud clarifies: "I doubt that 150 countries in the world fear Algeria. They comply with the resolutions of the Security Council."

In his speech on the occasion of the revolution anniversary in August 2022, Mohammed VI addressed the Sahara issue, calling on his "traditional partners" to clarify their position on this sensitive issue for the kingdom, an allusion to France and Mauritania.

Mohammed VI called on his "traditional or new partners whose positions on the Sahara issue are ambiguous, to clarify and review their position." The message was particularly addressed to France a few days before the French president’s visit to Algeria.