2024… A Year of Morocco’s Diplomatic Triumphs and Strengthened Sovereignty over the Sahara

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Another year brings Morocco closer to a definitive resolution of the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, marked by new diplomatic breakthroughs that further isolate the separatist narrative.

• Morocco Expands Awareness of the Moroccan Sahara in Central America

• French Business Leaders Explore Investment Opportunities in the Moroccan Sahara

The latest diplomatic victory for the Kingdom of Morocco is France’s explicit recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the entire southern provinces of the country, alongside Paris’s support for Morocco’s proposal to resolve the longstanding conflict through autonomy under Moroccan national sovereignty.

A Historic Turning Point

In recent years, Morocco has experienced a series of rapid international recognitions of its stance on the regional conflict. Several countries have openly supported the Moroccan Sahara, while others have bolstered this support by establishing diplomatic representations in the region.

• Switzerland Supports a Realistic and Acceptable Political Solution to the Moroccan Sahara Issue

• Bourita: The Moroccan Sahara issue is no longer on the agenda of the African Union

As of last August, 29 consulates had been opened in the Moroccan Sahara, the most recent being the General Consulate of Chad in Dakhla. These consulates are divided between Laayoune, hosting 12, and Dakhla, with 17.

The Comoros was the first country to open a consulate in the Moroccan Sahara in 2019, followed by the UAE, the first Gulf nation to inaugurate a consulate in Laayoune in 2020.

After the United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the southern provinces in 2020, France became the second permanent member of the UN Security Council to support the Moroccan Sahara, affirming that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the most effective solution to the conflict.

• Calls urging Britain to end its hesitation in recognizing the Moroccan Sahara

• Saudi Arabia consolidates its support for the Moroccan Sahara Internally and Externally 

What Does This Support Mean?

Tajeddine El Houssaini, an expert in international relations, asserts that France’s recognition represents a “turning point” in the case, given its status as a permanent member of the UN Security Council with veto power, similar to the United States and other permanent members.

He also notes that this support may encourage other European nations to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, owing to France’s strong ties with many countries in international blocs such as La Francophonie and the European Union.

• Saudi Arabia consolidates its support for the Moroccan Sahara Internally and Externally 

• Washington exposes Algeria’s falsification of its position on the Moroccan Sahara

Definitive Speeches

In two impactful speeches this year, King Mohammed VI addressed the Moroccan Sahara issue with clarity and firmness. The first, at the Parliament’s opening session, emphasized Morocco’s legitimacy, while the second, marking the anniversary of the Green March, urged the international community to clarify its position regarding the on-ground realities.

These speeches demonstrate Morocco’s clear strategy, combining historical justice with aspirations for the southern provinces’ development.

• U.S. moves to expedite resolution of the fabricated conflict in the Moroccan Sahara

• Steadfast Gulf Position on the Moroccan Sahara 

Major Development Projects for the Southern Provinces

Since 2015, Morocco has launched ambitious projects in the southern provinces, such as the Atlantic port of Dakhla, with a budget of 12.4 billion dirhams, and the Tiznit-Dakhla highway, costing 9 billion dirhams. These initiatives underscore Morocco’s commitment to sustainable development and regional integration.

• Rabat refutes before the United Nations the absence of the criteria of “self-determination” on the Moroccan Sahara

• Sovereignty of Morocco over the Moroccan Sahara