Dr. Alan Howard, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at the American University of Hawaii, stressed that the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative gives a list of clearly defined competencies designated to the Sahara autonomous zone, allowing the residents of the Sahara zone to handle their own affairs.

The expert stated that “the Moroccan Initiative presents a well-defined list of competences assigned to the Sahara autonomous region, allowing the population of the Sahara Region to manage their own affairs and respond to their own needs and aspirations, while respecting their cultural identity” at an international online research seminar on territorial autonomy held by Morocco’s Permanent Mission at the United Nations in New York.

Howard compared the Moroccan Sahara Autonomous Region Initiative to Rotuma’s model of autonomy (Oceania), noting that the latter has received support from UN Security Council members who view it as “a serious, credible, and pragmatic solution to put a definitive end to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.”

In contrast to the Rotuma Bills of 1959 and 2015, he added, Article 5 of the Morocco Initiative clearly announces a large set of powers, guarantees, and privileges that will be granted to the population of the Sahara Region in order for them to play a leading role in the bodies and institutions of the region. He also noted that Articles 12 and 13 present the broad range of areas over which the institutions of the Sahara Region will exercise powers and define the financial framework for the Sahara Region.

Howard noted that the Moroccan model acknowledges the distinctiveness of Sahrawi populations and commits to giving them the opportunity to manage their own affairs, which is a clear distinction between the two cases in terms of the recognition of ethnic populations as politically relevant groups.

He went on to say that the Moroccan Initiative for the Sahara Region is founded on the mutual acceptance of both Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara region and the full autonomy of that region, pointing out that Articles 5 and 6 of the initiative stipulate that the Sahara populations will independently manage their own affairs democratically, through legislative, executive, and judicial bodies with exclusive powers.

The State will maintain its powers in the royal domains, particularly with regard to defense, external relations, and HM the King’s constitutional and religious prerogatives, he said. They will also have the financial resources required for the region’s development in all fields and will actively participate in the nation’s economic, social, and cultural life.

He added that once the autonomy status is established, the Sahrawi populations will not only be represented in their regional parliament and government but also in the national parliament and all national institutions, as the Moroccan Initiative supports an essential process of negotiation and reconciliation that will result in a lasting agreement based on principles of autonomy.

The numerous presenters at this conference discussed the different forms of autonomy found around the world. They emphasized the significance of encouraging frequent meetings with a view to enhancing and extending the various autonomous models around the world in order to adapt them to the requirements and aspirations of regional communities.

Read also: Following Israel’s recognition, the US reiterates its support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara

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Rabat – Malta considers the autonomy plan presented by Morocco in 2007 as a serious and credible contribution to the UN-led political process aimed at advancing towards a definitive resolution of the Sahara question.

In a Joint Declaration adopted following discussions in Rabat with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, the position was made known by Maltese Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Ian Borg, who was on a working visit to the Kingdom.

Malta calls on all parties in the aforementioned Joint Declaration to show greater political will in support of a conclusive resolution and to rejoin UN efforts in an atmosphere of realism and compromise.

The UN-led process for a fair, sustainable, and amenable political resolution for the parties was also reaffirmed by the Maltese minister, according to the statement.

The two ministers reaffirmed their support for UN Security Council Resolutions 2602 and 2654, which acknowledged the role and responsibility of the parties in the search for a realistic, practical, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, and they agreed that the UN should be the only institution involved in the political process.

Read Also: Malta Commends Morocco’s Major Reforms under HM the king’s Leadership

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Rabat – The government of the Republic of Cabo Verde has reiterated its support to the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco and reaffirmed its support to the autonomy plan initiative presented by Morocco as “the only credible and realistic solution to the dispute” over the Sahara.

The Cabo Verdean Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration also reiterates its support for the United Nations’ initiatives as the only framework for achieving a “realistic, practical, and lasting” solution to the Sahara dispute in a letter sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

“Furthermore, the Government of Cabo Verde also reiterates the support of the Republic of Cabo Verde to the search for a lasting solution that preserves the Kingdom’s territorial integrity, under the exclusive auspices of the United Nations and in compliance with Decision 693 of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union of July 2018,” the statement continued.

Cabo Verdean diplomacy recalls that the aforementioned positions were “clearly expressed by the Prime Minister and Head of Government of Cabo Verde, José Ulisses Correia e Silva, during his meeting with the Head of Government of the Kingdom of Morocco, Aziz Akhannouch, as part of his recent and very successful official visit to the Kingdom of Morocco.”

According to Article 185 and paragraph (a) of number 1 of Article 203 of the Constitution of the Republic of Cabo Verde, the text also highlights that “the definition and execution of the internal and external policy is a political competence of the Government.”

Read Also: Ukraine backs Morocco’s autonomy plan for Sahara, foreign minister

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Christophe Lutundula Apala Pen’Apala, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), reaffirmed his country’s support for the Sahara Autonomy Plan within the scope of Morocco’s territorial integrity on Thursday in Marrakech.
Mr. Lutundula Apala Pen’Apala reiterated the DRC’s support for the Autonomy Plan in the Sahara within the framework of the Kingdom of Morocco’s territorial integrity, which is why it has appointed a Consul General in Dakhla, in a joint statement issued after his talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, Mr. Nasser Bourita, on the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS.
In this regard, he reaffirmed the DRC’s support for the search for a lasting solution by preserving the Kingdom of Morocco’s territorial integrity, unity, and sovereignty under the exclusive aegis of the United Nations, in accordance with decision 693 of the African Union’s Summit of Heads of State and Government in July 2018, which recognized such exclusivity to the UN with a view to resolving the regional conflict over the Sahara.
The minister praised the Kingdom’s support to the Congolese government’s and international community’s efforts to promote peace, democracy, security, and development in the country.
Mr. Bourita, speaking on behalf of the Kingdom of Morocco, praised His Excellency President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo’s initiatives and actions as President of the African Union (AU) during his mandate to consolidate the security, independence, territorial integrity, and unity of all African States and the continent as a whole.
He also praised the DRC’s commitment to the international community’s efforts to promote peace and regional stability, as well as the trust it has as a subregional actor devoted to security and the fight against terrorism and armed organizations.

Mr. Bourita applauded His Excellency President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo’s efforts to restore peace and security in eastern DRC, and congratulated him on his membership in the East African Community (EAC).

The Moroccan minister stated that the Kingdom fully supports the Nairobi process, which is being led by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, the current EAC Chairman, with the goal of neutralizing the negative forces that cause insecurity in the DRC’s east and the Great Lakes sub-region and restoring peace.

He urged the African Union and the United Nations to support the East African Community’s leaders, particularly by participating actively in the quick execution of the peace plan drafted by the heads of state of Burundi, Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The two ministers also emphasized the importance of improving communication and coordination at multilateral platforms such as the African Union and the United Nations in order to align diplomatic actions at these levels with official positions taken by the two countries on a variety of issues of mutual interest.

In the same spirit, the two parties voiced their commitment to supporting, in a concerted and mutual manner, Moroccan and Congolese candidacies at the level of regional and international organizations.

In this regard, Mr. Bourita thanked his Congolese counterpart for the support provided by the DRC to the election of the Kingdom of Morocco as a member of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union for the period 2022-2025 and expressed willingness to support the DRC’s candidacy for the post of non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, for the period 2026-2027.

The two ministers stressed the interest shown by the Heads of State in the development of relations of cooperation and economic partnership between the two brotherly countries.
Mr. Bourita reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to support the DRC in its development efforts, particularly in areas with a strong socio-economic impact, including agriculture, health, water, electricity and renewable energies.

The two officials agreed to form cooperative sectoral committees to develop actual initiatives and action plans in the chosen sectors.

While welcoming the establishment of a Morocco-DRC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIMC) in February 2020, the two countries agreed to hold the 6th Morocco-DRC Joint Commission of Cooperation and the Morocco/DRC Economic Forum in 2022, with the goal of promoting trade and economic exchanges between the two countries and utilizing the Congolese consular’s presence in Dakhla, which is expected to become a regional economic hub.

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In an op-ed published Monday by “la Razon” under the title “State Policy With Morocco”, former Spanish minister of interior Jorge Fernandez Diaz wrote that the change in the position of the Spanish government over the Moroccan Sahara was “necessary”. He added “I affirm categorically that it was necessary”.

After concluding that a country’s foreign policy is defined by the preservation of its interests and strategic needs, he asserted that “the stability of Morocco is strategic for us”, ensuring that “it is necessary to maintain a bilateral relationship based on loyalty, trust and mutual cooperation”.

Following the Spanish government’s decision to support the Moroccan autonomy initiative to resolve the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, Fernandez Diaz concluded that “Morocco is now recognized as a partner and a priority ally for the foreign policy of Spain and the EU, with which we must promote cooperation at all levels”.

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