Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed this Tuesday, October 29, before the Moroccan Parliament in Rabat that “the present and the future” of Western Sahara “are part of the framework of Moroccan sovereignty”, provoking loud applause from elected officials.
“This position is not hostile to anyone,” said the French president in response to criticism from Algeria, which supports the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front in this disputed territory.
“And I say it here also with great force, our operators and our companies will support the development of these territories through investments, sustainable and solidarity initiatives for the benefit of local populations,” he added.
Crisis with Algiers
This former Spanish colony, considered a “non-autonomous territory” by the UN, has faced Morocco against the Polisario Front for half a century. After the United States recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over this territory, Rabat increased pressure on France to do the same.
On July 30, Emmanuel Macron ended up considering in a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI that the future of Western Sahara fell “within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty”, opening the way to a warming up with Rabat and by extension to a new crisis with Algiers. who called his ambassador in Paris.
This readjustment of the French position had opened the way for this state visit, which had been postponed many times until then.
A “new page”
“Autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue must be resolved and the 2007 autonomy plan” proposed by Morocco “constitutes the only basis for reaching a fair, lasting and negotiated political solution, in accordance with Council resolutions.” of the United Nations Security Council. Council,” the French president insisted on Tuesday.
“Anchored in history, respectful of realities and promising for the future, this position is what France will put into practice to support Morocco in international organizations,” he promised.
According to him, “it allows us to open a new page”, also “with all those who want to act in a framework of regional cooperation in the Mediterranean with Morocco’s neighboring countries and with the European Union.”
Source: BFM TV
