Photo by Charles Smart on Unsplash
In a message sent on the 25th anniversary of Morocco’s Throne Day, the French President Emmanuel Macron has reaffirmed that for France, autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which the regional dispute of Western Sahara shall be resolved. “Our support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 is clear and unwavering,” the statement reads adding that this plan “constitutes now the only basis to achieve a just, lasting, and negotiated political solution, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.”
“Today, an increasingly broad international consensus is emerging,” notes the French President, emphasising that France fully plays its part in all relevant fora, particularly through its support for the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy. “It is time to move forward. I therefore encourage all parties to come together for a political settlement, which is within reach,” President Macron states in his message.
Commending Morocco’s efforts to promote the economic and social development of the Moroccan Sahara, the French President committed to ensuring that “France will support Morocco in this endeavour for the benefit of the local population.”
This announcement from the French Republic, permanent member of the UN Security Council, marks an important and significant step in supporting Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. It is part of the momentum spurred by the initiative of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI and supported now by many countries worldwide, advocating Morocco’s territorial integrity and the autonomy plan as the exclusive framework for resolving this matter.
