Morocco’s King Praises France’s Support for Sahara Autonomy Plan

Accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and Prince Moulay Rachid, King Mohammed VI presided over the opening of the first session of the fourth legislative year of the 11th legislature in Rabat on Friday, reports The Associated Press. In his annual speech to the elected representatives, he welcomed France’s position, which supports Morocco’s sovereignty over the entire territory of the Sahara and backs the autonomy initiative within the framework of Morocco’s territorial integrity, as the only basis for resolving this regional conflict.

The settlement of sovereignty conflicts over the Sahara remains the driving force of Morocco’s foreign policy, reaffirmed the Moroccan sovereign, hailing the diplomatic triumphs and presenting them as progress towards the resolution of the decades-old conflict in Morocco’s favor. In 2020, the United States recognized the Moroccanness of the Sahara in exchange for the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel. Countries including Saudi Arabia and 18 European Union members, including Spain, have since followed suit. Positions that King Mohammed VI welcomed.

"This positive development, which upholds the right and legitimacy through the recognition of Morocco’s historical rights, is driven by a great country, with the status of a permanent member of the Security Council and recognized as an influential actor on the international scene," said Mohammed VI, supporting the efforts made within the framework of the United Nations to lay the foundations for a political process leading to a definitive settlement of this issue within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.

The sovereign also welcomed the recognition of Arab and African countries: "We are also proud of the positions of our brotherly Arab and African countries that clearly and responsibly support the territorial integrity of the Kingdom, and in particular those who have opened consulates in Laâyoune and Dakhla." According to him, Morocco’s African allies consider the Sahara as "the heart of strategic continental initiatives", including a planned pipeline extending from Nigeria and an initiative announced last year to give Sahel countries additional access to Atlantic trade routes.

"Notwithstanding all that has been achieved, the next step requires increased mobilization and vigilance from all to firmly consolidate the position of our country, and it is important to continue to plead the justice of our Cause and to counter the maneuvers of the adversaries," added King Mohammed VI, stressing that the fundamental principles of Morocco’s position must be explained to the small number of countries that continue to reverse the logic of law and deny historical facts.

This annual speech by King Mohammed VI to the parliamentarians comes a few days after the Court of Justice’s decision to annul the fisheries agreements between the European Union (EU) and Morocco. These agreements were obsolete, as they were concluded "without the consent of the people of Western Sahara," the EU said. A decision contested by Rabat. "Morocco is not a party to this case, which concerns the European Union on the one hand, and the "polisario" supported by Algeria on the other," an official statement said. Rabat denounced "suspicious factual errors" and "obvious legal errors" which, according to the kingdom, "testify to a total ignorance of the realities of the file, if not to a blatant political bias." Conversely, Algeria welcomed the European Court of Justice’s decision. It believes that it confirms the illegality of the trade agreements concluded with the kingdom.