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8:44 27.07.2024 •
Algeria expressed today its deep regret and strong condemnation regarding the French government’s decision to recognize Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Western Sahara. The Algerian government affirmed that it would take all necessary measures and hold the French government fully accountable, as stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad, informs Al24news.
The statement read: “The Algerian government has taken note, with great regret and strong disapproval, of the unexpected, ill-judged, and counterproductive decision by the French government to provide unequivocal support for the autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region under purported Moroccan sovereignty. Algerian authorities were informed of this decision by their French counterparts in recent days.”
The statement further emphasized, “It appears that former and current colonial powers know how to align, understand, and assist one another.”
According to the statement, the French decision is based on dubious political calculations, unethical assumptions, and legally unsound interpretations. It claimed that this choice does not contribute to a peaceful resolution of the Western Sahara issue but rather exacerbates the stagnation and deadlock caused by Morocco’s autonomy plan for over seventeen years.
Despite the longstanding international consensus that the Western Sahara issue should be addressed as part of the decolonization process, the French decision seeks to distort facts by endorsing a colonial reality and unjustifiably supporting alleged Moroccan sovereignty over the region. Adding to the controversy is the fact that this decision comes from a permanent member of the UN Security Council, which is expected to act in accordance with international legitimacy and the decisions of this body.
The statement continued: “At a time when the United Nations is intensifying efforts to inject new momentum into finding a political settlement to the Western Sahara conflict, the French decision contradicts these efforts, hampers their implementation, and clashes with the overarching interest of peace, security, and stability in the region.”
The Algerian government noted, “The French decision does not serve the objectives of peace in Western Sahara and prolongs the stagnation of the political process to resolve this issue. It contributes to perpetuating the colonial status quo in the region.”
Consequently, the statement concluded, “The Algerian government will draw all necessary conclusions and consequences from this French decision and hold the French government solely and fully responsible for it.”
Algeria’s position on the Western Sahara conflict is to implement a United Nations plan which includes a self determination referendum. Algeria considers Morocco’s presence in the Sahara an occupation, notes Reuters.
The issue of the Western Sahara region is considered a long-standing dispute between Morocco and the POLISARIO Front, supported by Algeria, as each party claims sovereignty over the region. Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara has not been internationally recognized, and the issue remains a matter of dispute in the United Nations.
Morocco took over most of Western Sahara in 1975 from colonial Spain. That started a guerrilla war with the Sahrawi people's POLISARIO Front, which says the desert territory in the northwest of Africa belongs to it.
The United Nations brokered a ceasefire in 1991 and sent in a mission to help organise a referendum on the future of the territory, but the sides have been deadlocked since.
…The French are keeping quiet for now – they have the Olympics and a government change. But the Americans immediately expressed their opinion. In fact, the USA is pouring gasoline on the old fire of contradictions in North-West Africa.
US Ambassador to Algeria Elizabeth Moore Aubin has renewed her country’s steadfast support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara. This development sends a new significant blow to the Polisario separatist group as well as their supporter Algeria.
The US ambassador conveyed her country’s unchanged support for Morocco’s cause in a recent interview with La Patrie News.
In the interview, in regards to Morocco’s neighbor, Aubin stressed the importance of ties between the US and Algeria, noting that the two countries have worked to build a deeper and more steadfast relationships.
“We have had lasting relations with the leadership of both countries, meaning with the Americans who have come here and the Algerians who have gone to the United States,” she said.
Aubin, however, acknowledged that this period has been marked by tensions following the decision made by former US president Donald Trump, who signed a proclamation in 2020 recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara.
The ambassador added that the Biden administration upheld Trump’s proclamation.
In 2022, Spain joined the growing list of countries supporting Morocco’s autonomy initiative, also declaring it as the most “serious and credible” political solution for the dispute.
Among other countries, this influence has also spread over to the UK, where MPs have been calling on their government to follow the steps of the US and Spain. The MPs have been urging their government to support the Moroccan position and strengthen its alliance with the North African country.
the Biden administration has continuously emphasized that it upholds Trump’s proclamation.
The US also frequently made it clear that its position on the dispute remains unchanged.
…No one is yet remembering that the problem was submitted to the UN for consideration long ago, and has not yet received any solution there.
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