France Supports Morocco Autonomy Plan for Sahara

Paris, France – In a significant shift in foreign policy, France has officially thrown its support behind Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Western Sahara. This move, articulated by President Emmanuel Macron in a letter to Morocco’s King, aligns France with Morocco’s vision for the region and distances it from its previous neutral stance.

President Macron described the Moroccan proposal, which was introduced in 2007 and offers Western Sahara limited autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, as the “only basis” for resolving the long-standing conflict. “The present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,” Macron stated in his letter, which was made public on Tuesday. He further emphasized France’s commitment to this position on both national and international stages.

France’s backing of Morocco’s plan represents a considerable diplomatic victory for Rabat and follows similar endorsements from the United States, Israel, Spain, and several African nations. These countries see the Moroccan proposal as a pragmatic solution amid a stalled United Nations-mediated peace process.

France’s decision has sparked anger in Algeria, a staunch supporter of the Polisario Front. As the former colonial power in the region, France has historically maintained a delicate balance between Morocco and Algeria on the Western Sahara issue. This shift is likely to strain Franco-Algerian relations further, already tense over various geopolitical issues.

France’s alignment with Morocco adds significant weight to the Moroccan position and could influence other nations to follow suit, potentially reshaping the dynamics of this enduring conflict.