France's Strategic Shift: Recognizing Moroccan Sovereignty over Western Sahara

The decades-old dispute over Western Sahara took a significant turn on July 30th when French President Emmanuel Macron declared Morocco’s autonomy plan as the “only basis” for resolving the conflict. This represents a clear endorsement of Moroccan sovereignty over the region. Morocco's autonomy plan proposes granting the territory significant self-governance while remaining under Moroccan sovereignty, akin to the status of certain Spanish regions. This shift aligns France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, with other nations such as the United States and Spain, who have also backed Morocco’s proposal in recent years.

This important political evolution in the decades-long French position constitutes a significant development in support of Moroccan sovereignty over its Sahara and represents yet another big confirmation of Morocco's sovereignty over the Southern provinces. This major political shift will certainly have a significant impact on the future outcome of this important regional issue. Thus, the French President Emmanuel Macron stresses that “for France, autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue shall be resolved. Our support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 is clear and unwavering,” he added.

In this line, France has joined the growing list of countries that support Morocco on this important national issue. In a letter to King Mohammed VI of Morocco, the French President called a plan proposed by Morocco in 2007: “the only basis to achieve a just, lasting, and negotiated political solution, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.”

This change in France's attitude deals a tough blow to the Polisario front and additionally confirms the legitimacy and rightfulness of the Moroccan autonomy initiative, as well as its national sovereignty and territorial integrity over its Sahara. France’s endorsement of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara is a powerful affirmation of Morocco’s territorial integrity and represents an additional support for the respect of international law, the UN Charter and the principle of inviolability of the borders of the UN member states.

“The present and the future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty. France intends to act consistently with this position both nationally and internationally”, Macron wrote in the same letter. Abandoning the previous French position is a great victory for Morocco and its diplomacy, and it follows the spirit of similar changes that came from the United States of America, Spain, Israel, and a significant number of African nations in the previous period.

French President Emmanuel Macron's support for Morocco's plan has been met with widespread approval, not only within his party but also among lawmakers from other political factions, including Marine Le Pen.

This announcement from the French Republic can be perceived also as a part of the momentum spurred by King Mohammed VI of Morocco, and supported by numerous countries around the world, advocating in favor for Morocco's territorial integrity and the autonomy plan as the best and exclusive framework for resolving this regional dispute.

France's endorsement of the Moroccan autonomy plan not only reflects a significant shift in its foreign policy but also reinforces a growing international consensus around Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara.

Stefan Jovanović is a political expert currently working as a Vice President of the Center for International Relations and Sustainable Development (CIRSD). He formerly served as an MP in the Serbian National Assembly and Serbia's representative at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Back to CIRSD news