Political status of Western Sahara
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) treats the status of Western Sahara as 'undetermined' but its lack of reference to the partition and the existence of the Polisario-held areas, suggests a tacit acceptance of Morocco as the administering power in the entire territory.
[6] Under international law, Morocco's transfer of its own civilians into occupied territory is in direct violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention (cf.
On 22 January 2020, Morocco's House of Representatives voted unanimously to add Western Sahara waters to the Moroccan maritime borders.
Mauritania waged four years of war against Polisario guerrillas, conducting raids on Nouakchott, attacks on the Zouerate mine train and a coup d'état that deposed Ould Daddah.
Mauritania finally withdrew in the summer of 1979, after signing the Algiers Agreement with the Polisario Front, recognizing the right of self-determination for the Sahrawi people, and renouncing any claims on Western Sahara.
[15] Some states have changed their opinion frequently or have given separate announcements of support for both Morocco and the Polisario Front/SADR (Egypt, Italy, Lesotho, Russia, Rwanda, Yemen, etc.).
This marked a notable change of diplomatic stance; The French authorities previously argued that Morocco’s plan for autonomy was a “serious and credible” basis for discussion, but not the only one.
[195][196] From 28 to 30 October 2024, Macron conducted his three-day state visit to Morocco's capital accompanied by a delegation of French ministers and business leaders.
[197] On the first day, the King and Macron jointly chaired the signing ceremony of 22 key deals between the nations, addressing: railway, aviation, education, and sustainable energy/infrastructure.
As part of the objective “to accelerate” partnerships between France and Morocco, MGH Energy, a French company focused on decarbonizing transportation by air and sea, also plans to partner with a Moroccan gas retailer to produce fuel near Dakhla.
[202] In April 2009, 229 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, a clear majority and more than 50 more than the number who signed the letter[clarification needed] in 2007, called on President Obama to support Morocco's autonomy plan and to assist in drawing the conflict to a close.
In addition to acknowledging that Western Sahara has become a recruiting post for radical Islamists, the letter affirmed that the conflict is "the single greatest obstacle impending the security and cooperation necessary to combat" terrorism in the Maghreb.
[203] In closing, the letter stated, "We remain convinced that the U.S. position, favoring autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty is the only feasible solution.
"[203] Commenting on a 2004 free trade agreement with Morocco, US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick stated in a letter to Congressman Joe Pitts in response to his questioning, "the United States and many other countries do not recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and have consistently urged the parties to work with the United Nations to resolve the conflict by peaceful means.
"[204][205] In April 2013, the United States proposed that MINURSO monitored human rights (as all the other UN mission since 1991) in Western Sahara, a move that Morocco strongly opposed, cancelling the annual African Lion military exercises with U.S. Army troops.
[209][210] In November 2021, Antony Blinken said that the Biden administration "[continues] to view Morocco’s autonomy plan as serious, credible, and realistic, and one potential approach to satisfy the aspirations of the people of Western Sahara".
[225] In 1984, Morocco withdrew from the AU's predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), in protest of the group's recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
[230] Over practical issues such as fishing in the EEZ the EU deals with Morocco as the country currently exercising "jurisdiction, but not sovereignty" over Western Sahara territory.
[232] In December 2016, the European Court of Justice reaffirmed in Council v Front populaire pour la libération de la saguia-el-hamra et du rio de oro (Front Polisario) that Morocco has no basis for sovereignty over Western Sahara[233] and that trade deals with Morocco cannot apply to the occupied territory.
[235] Since 1979, the United Nations has recognized the Polisario Front as the representative of the people of Western Sahara, and considered Morocco as an occupying force.
