France Reaffirms Support for Morocco’s Sahara Autonomy Plan

Just a few days after Algeria’s retreat from its escalation against Paris due to the latter’s position on the Sahara, France has reiterated its support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara. "France expressed its vision of the present and future in the Western Sahara a few months ago, which is in line with Moroccan sovereignty as a direct consequence of the Moroccan autonomy plan. [...] There are no other realistic and credible solutions today," said the French Foreign Minister during a hearing before the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee last Wednesday.

According to Jean-Noël Barrot, this is part of "a lasting and accepted political solution within the United Nations, and we support the UN efforts to achieve this dialogue." He also specified that he will address this issue "in the coming days with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in Paris."

In July 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron had, in a message addressed to King Mohammed VI commemorating the 25th anniversary of his enthronement, recognized the Moroccanness of the Sahara. France "intends to act in coherence with this position at the national and international level," the French head of state had assured. "For France, autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework in which this issue must be resolved. Our support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 is clear and constant," the French president had insisted, adding that this plan "is now the only basis for reaching a just, lasting and negotiated political solution, in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council."

During a state visit to Morocco, the French president, in a speech before the two Houses of the Moroccan Parliament on October 29 last, renewed his strong support for the kingdom’s sovereignty over its Sahara. "I reaffirm that here before you. For France, the present and future of this region are part of Moroccan sovereignty. Autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework in which this issue must be resolved," he declared.

This change in position has exacerbated tensions between France and Algeria. But this page is being turned. Algiers has finally accepted Paris’ position on the Sahara. On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron exchanged with his Algerian counterpart, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, in order to relaunch relations between Paris and Algiers, but the two personalities overlooked the Moroccan Sahara.