The British newspaper The Times highlights the Kingdom’s growing diplomatic momentum on the Moroccan Sahara issue
In a recent analysis, the British daily underscores the favorable diplomatic dynamics currently benefiting Rabat on the international stage regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue. According to the newspaper, the detailed presentation of the autonomy project by the Moroccan authorities during discussions held in Madrid marks a strategic turning point and illustrates a new diplomatic phase.
According to this reading, the Moroccan initiative is drawing increased attention in Washington, where the administration of Donald Trump is reportedly closely monitoring developments in the file, viewing it as a determining factor for regional stability. U.S. officials reportedly see a settlement of the dispute as a way to encourage easing tensions between Morocco and Algeria, whose land border has remained closed since 1994.
The British daily also notes that the current version of the autonomy proposal goes beyond the initial framework presented in 2007. It would notably provide for local institutions endowed with broad executive, legislative, and judicial powers to manage internal affairs, while sovereign prerogatives — such as defense, diplomacy, and currency — would remain the exclusive responsibility of the central State.
According to the analysis, the Moroccan sovereign would retain a key role in appointing the head of the regional executive and in overseeing security matters, while major structural investments and strategic resources would remain under national authority supervision. The project would therefore align with the Kingdom’s institutional continuity.
Regarding the question of a potential referendum, cited sources indicate that it could be considered at the national level rather than being limited to local populations.
Riccardo Fabiani of the International Crisis Group considers the initiative a long-awaited development for many international observers. For his part, Hugh Lovatt of the European Council on Foreign Relations believes that the current trend strengthens the credibility of the autonomy option as a basis for negotiation.
Finally, the newspaper emphasizes that Western support for the Moroccan plan appears to be gradually consolidating, recalling that the United Kingdom has recently joined positions expressed by the United States and France in favor of this approach, even though formal recognitions of sovereignty remain limited for the time being.
Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv
