Morocco’s King Challenges France on Western Sahara Stance Ahead of Macron’s Algeria Visit

Mohammed VI called on his "traditional or new partners whose positions on the Sahara issue are ambiguous, to clarify and review their position." According to some media, the message is particularly addressed to France and comes a few days before the visit of Emmanuel Macron to Algeria scheduled for August 25.

The Moroccan monarch is aware of the progress made on this issue, after the American recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, then that of Germany and Spain. "We appreciate the clear and responsible position of Spain, our neighbor, who knows well the origin and reality of this dispute," he said.

Mohammed VI also welcomed the opening of consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla by thirty countries, including Arab countries such as Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Djibouti and the Comoros. This "dynamic" has also affected 40% of African countries, as well as countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, he stressed.

The Polisario Front condemned this speech by the Moroccan monarch, recalling that Spain remains the administering power of the Sahara and that it has violated international law by supporting Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara. "The Sahara remains a non-self-governing territory [...] until the Sahrawi people have expressed themselves by referendum," it said in a statement.