Over the past years,under King Mohammed VI’s leadership,Moroccan diplomacy went full speed,gaining growing recognition for the autonomy plan as the only credible and lasting solution to the Sahara issue.
The US recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara territory in 2020- as part of a trilateral deal involving the resumption of ties with Israel- was a watershed moment cementing centuries old ties between Washington and Rabat.
The US stand was reiterated explicitly by the Trump administration.
The US position was followed by a watershed when Spain,France recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory.
The UK was the third security council member state to join the momentum in support of the Sahara autonomy plan,under Moroccan sovereignty in June.
Other major European nations,including Portugal,Germany,the Netherlands support the Moroccan plan.
Within the past five years,29 countries opened consulates in the Saharan cities of Dakhla and Laayoune,bringing tangible support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory.
These include 23 African states,or over 40% of the African Union member states.
In June,two influential African countries left the Algerian-South African orbit,expressing outspoken support for Morocco’s territorial integrity. These are Ghana and Kenya.
The King had made it clear in a speech that the Kingdom would never compromise on its sovereignty.
“The Sahara issue is the lens through which Morocco looks at the world,” the King had said.
The triumphal return to the pan-African organization,was followed by active participation of Morocco,which won a seat in the top-decision making body,the Peace and Security Council.
History shall remember how opponents of Morocco’s territorial integrity,usually failed dictatorships turning in Algeria’s orbit,have used the same council to defend separatism.
The African Union,as part of mending its past bias,adopted a resolution in its 31st summit in Mauritania in 2018,recognizing the UN process as the sole process to settle the Sahara issue. The decision was a victory for Morocco which always decried the aberration of having a separatist entity lacking all state attributes as a member state of the AU.
Development
Recognitions abroad came in tandem with a speed up of the development process at home.
The King gave instructions to make the Sahara a champion of economic and human development domestically.
After a development program worth 7 billion dollars,Morocco is launching major infrastructure projects in the Sahara,including a world-class container port in Dakhla to make the region a hub for trade and foster its standing as a gateway to the African market.
Morocco is also close to opening a highway linking Dakhla to Tiznit,as well as desalination,renewable energy,and green hydrogen projects that would meet the needs of the region and beyond while creating a propitious investment climate.
As Morocco continues to win support for its territorial integrity from global powers,it has achieved a human development index in the Sahara that is higher than the national average,making the territory a model in the African continent for peace,stability,and doing business.
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