Rabat presented this autonomy plan to the United Nations in 2007, which means burying ‘de facto’ any prospect of independence for the former Spanish colony.
Morocco presented in 2007 before the United Nations an autonomy plan for Western Sahara that it continues to defend today and that means burying ‘de facto’ any prospect of independence for the former Spanish colony, which would remain under Rabat’s designs on key issues such as security.
The “Morocco’s commitment to a definitive political solution”as this proposal was defined, put on the table an initiative to resolve the “dead end” that had become the diplomatic pulse to determine the future of Western Sahara.
Proposes to Polisario Frontwhich controls the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)a new scenario of coexistence that, according to Rabat, “favors reconciliation”.
For the Polisario, however, it has always been an unacceptable proposal, to the extent that this movement only contemplates a referendum that includes total self-determination among its options.
Rabat has always ruled out independence and it only contemplates that the territory continues within its orbit, with assignments of certain powers.
Thus, according to the Moroccan plan, which would also be submitted to a referendum, Western Sahara would have its own legislative, executive and judicial bodies, although the opinions of all of them should be adjusted to state criteria.
In this way, the State would cede to the “autonomous region” certain powers in matters of economy, infrastructure, social development and cultureamong other areas, while reserving key areas such as defense, foreign relations or religionwhich fall specifically under the control of King Mohamed VI.
Rabat does not present this initiative as a unilateral imposition, but sees it as a tool to reach a “mutually acceptable” solution.
15 years after its presentation, however, it has not served to unblock the process and the Polisario maintains to this day that it will only support a self-determination referendum.
Among those who have supported the Moroccan autonomy plan is Francea key ally of Morocco whom he has not hesitated to defend in key settings such as the Moroccan Security Council.
In addition to Spainas well Germany has made clear its support for the Rabat initiative after the coalition government headed by Olaf Scholz came to power.
Source: Eitb
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