Morocco’s Ambassador Returns to Spain Following Shift in Sahara Policy

Morocco has just taken the ultimate step to materialize the resumption of its relations with Spain. The Moroccan ambassador to Madrid, Karima Benyaich, returned this Sunday to her post, after several months of absence. She had been recalled for consultations in May last year, after the entry into Spain of Brahim Ghali, the leader of the Polisario Front, causing a serious diplomatic crisis with Morocco, and the invasion of migrants in Ceuta.

Read: Morocco Welcomes Spain’s Shift on Western Sahara Dispute

The return of the Moroccan ambassador to Madrid comes a day after Spain’s announcement to support Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara, reports El Español, recalling that the President of the Spanish government has clearly expressed this change of position in a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI.

For its part, Algeria has denounced this "sudden turnaround" in Spain’s position and recalled its ambassador to Madrid on Saturday for consultations. The Spanish government, for its part, assures that Algeria was "in advance" informed of this decision concerning the Sahara, which it has otherwise described as "reckless" and "politically botched" by the PSOE, Podemos and the Popular Party (PP).