The Moroccan kingdom receives increasing support on the question of Western Sahara

Marruecos: un país cada día más africanista

photo_camera Sáhara

Over the past week, several events have occurred that mark an unprecedented rapprochement between Morocco and several African countries, as well as a diplomatic victory with respect to the sovereignty of Western Sahara. Firstly, three African embassies were opened this week in Morocco, those of the Comoros, Eswatini (former Swaziland) and Zambia.

Secondly, several agreements have been signed with African countries, six cooperation agreements with Chad, four cooperation agreements with Malawi and three agreements with the Central African Republic. The content of the agreements varies from country to country, but in all three cases the cooperation agreements aim to strengthen relations in various sectors, which are crucial for African countries, such as economy, agriculture, tourism, energy and science. The case of Malawi is noteworthy as until two years ago this country recognised the Polisario Front as the authority of the Western Sahara, following the dynamics of South Africa, and now clearly supports Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.

Third, three Consulates General were also opened this week in Dakla (Sahara), Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea, and two in El Ayoun, Eswatini and Zambia. In addition to these consulates, a number of diplomatic representations have been opened in Western Sahara over the past year: the Consulate of The Gambia (7 January), Guinea Conakry (17 January), Djibouti (28 February) and Liberia (12 March) also in Dakla and the Consulates opened by the Comoros, which was the first official one in December last year, Gabon (17 January), the Central African Republic (23 January), Sao Tome and Principe (23 January), Côte d'Ivoire (18 February) and Burundi (28 February) in El Ayoun. These fifteen African consulates opened in these two cities last year are evidence of the support for Morocco on the question of Western Sahara. Senegal, which was one of the first countries to open a consulate in Saharan territory, should be added to this list of countries, although this consulate is honorary so it is a diplomatic gesture and does not exercise the functions of a consulate.  

These diplomatic approaches show how far Morocco's poor relations with the African Union countries remain before its reintegration in 2017. It should also be remembered that the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is recognised as a member state of the African Union, so the fact that 16 countries have opened a consulate to Morocco in the territory of the Sahara is a major change in the behaviour of these African countries. Despite Algeria's complaints every time a consulate has been opened in the disputed territory of the Sahara, it has had no repercussions at international level, despite the fact that, according to Algeria, these decisions are a violation of decisions by the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly. The other country that has traditionally supported the Polisario Front apart from Algeria is South Africa. During these months of discussion at the United Nations Security Council, South Africa, as a non-permanent member, has insisted enormously that the resolution to be issued on Wednesday 28 October on the conflict in Western Sahara should include a demand for a referendum on self-determination. On the eve of the resolution on Western Sahara, it seems unlikely that such a clause will be included.

The main objective of the resolution to be adopted tomorrow is the renewal of the United Nations Mission (MINURSO), and the particularities of its capabilities and limitations, not to resolve the conflict in Western Sahara. The resolution will also adopt António Guterres' report on the situation in the Sahara, and will, as in the other resolutions, call on the parties to reach a peaceful solution. Even so, the fact that every day there are more African countries supporting the 'Moroccanness' of the Sahara, with the aforementioned diplomatic gestures, is yet another victory for Morocco, which has most international support. In addition to South Africa, the Polisario Front continues to enjoy the recognition of several African countries, including Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Angola, Sierra Leone and Namibia. Recognition, however, is decreasing every year, the last one to cease to recognise the Polisario Front being the Kingdom of Lesotho in December 2019. On the other hand, since 2011 no country has announced recognition.  

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