According to Tavares, Resolution 2797 represents far more than a simple United Nations document. He described it as the clearest recognition to date of the Moroccan autonomy plan submitted in 2007, which he referred to as the only credible, realistic and lasting framework to resolve the regional dispute over the Sahara.
“We have just witnessed a political and historic moment that is decisive for Morocco but also for the entire African continent,” he stated, while praising the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, whose diplomatic leadership and development policies have strengthened Morocco’s international position.
A direct message to the African Union: “The Polisario must be expelled”
Building on this development, the former Cape Verdean foreign minister stressed that the African Union must now accept its responsibilities. “After Resolution 2797, the AU must correct the 1982 mistake and expel the Polisario. This entity is not a state. Its admission was a political and legal anomaly. It is time to put an end to it.”
Tavares recalled that never in the history of the continental organization had a non-state movement been granted full membership. He described the decision as a “dangerous break with the founding principles of international law”.
The former minister emphasized that the situation calls for strategic clarity, not confrontation. “This mistake must be corrected calmly, carefully and with determination. The entire continent is waiting for the African Union to restore its institutional credibility in alignment with international legality.”
He argued that the AU cannot remain passive while the Security Council has clearly acknowledged the autonomy plan as the only realistic political framework.
Morocco as a catalyst for stability and development
Luís Filipe Tavares also highlighted the key role played by Morocco under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in strengthening peace and stability across Africa. He emphasized the country’s “remarkable development”, describing Morocco as a continental model in infrastructure, economic diplomacy and investment across the continent.
Closing one chapter and opening another
For the Cape Verdean diplomat, the message is clear. “The time has come to open a new chapter based on stability, peace and coherence. Africa cannot move forward while carrying a historical anomaly within its institutions.”
At the MEDays Forum in Tangier, his remarks resonated as a strong signal. More and more voices in Africa are acknowledging that progress on the regional dispute lies within the Moroccan approach. They also recognize that the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI continues to shape a continental future rooted in stability and shared development.
Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv