Morocco’s Sahara Autonomy Plan: Key Details, Referendum and Resources

Drafted by royal advisers and unveiled shortly after a diplomatic meeting in Madrid in early February 2026, this 40-page document details the institutional framework proposed by Rabat. The Moroccan state would retain sovereign powers (defense, foreign policy, currency), while the future regional government would manage land-use planning, tourism, healthcare, and education.

To guarantee the unity of the state, the president of this autonomous region would be formally appointed by King Mohammed VI. The local, unicameral assembly would combine representatives elected by universal suffrage with representatives of recognized Sahrawi tribes, while introducing a quota for women.

Sahara autonomy plan: resource management and national referendum

Economically, the region would collect local taxes and retain a share of the revenue generated by its natural resources, particularly phosphates, fishing, and renewable energy. The text also promises the return of approximately 173,000 people residing in the Tindouf camps in Algeria, coupled with a process of disarmament and reintegration for Polisario Front fighters, with the strict exclusion of those who have committed war crimes.

On Bladi.net : Sahara: here is what the Moroccan autonomy proposal contains

Approval of this status would require a referendum held throughout Moroccan territory, rather than exclusively in the Sahara. An irrevocability clause is included to block any right of secession: autonomy is presented as the definitive political solution. The plan also rejects any “permanent external tutelage,” meaning that the international community would no longer have a supervisory role once the agreement had been approved.