Spain, in its quest to improve relations with Morocco, changes its position on the Moroccan Sahara

 Spain, in its quest to improve relations with Morocco, changes its position on the Moroccan Sahara

MADRID - In an effort to ease tensions with Morocco, Spain has for the first time prepared plans for African countries in Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony that has been ravaged by a five-year territorial dispute.

In an announcement of the move on Friday night, Madrid officials said Morocco's approval of plans to grant Western Sahara independence could open a "new phase" in relations between Spain and Morocco. 

However, this development was immediately condemned by the POLISARIO Front, a separatist movement in Western Sahara that represented the Sahara.

A Moroccan plan would allow the Sahrawi people to run their own government, but under Moroccan sovereignty, Morocco was responsible for defense and foreign affairs.

POLISARIO, backed by neighboring Algeria, which fought for Moroccan control over Western Sahara, called for a referendum on self-determination, as set out in the 1991 ceasefire agreement and the United Nations negotiations.

Spain has previously sought to maintain order in the conflict and called for a united front, and the UN is a mediator in honor of previous UN resolutions. But at a press conference on Friday night, Albarez outlined Morocco's plan for self-government, which is "the most serious and credible foundation" for resolving the conflict in Western Sahara.

The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes Spain's "creative agreement", adding that the changes have created a "clear and ambitious map" that will change the way the country works and strengthen relations with Madrid. On Saturday, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned its ambassador to Madrid for talks, saying it was "extremely surprised" by Spain's new position.

Spain and Morocco often disagree on Moroccan Sahara. Last year, Morocco withdrew its ambassador in protest of Madrid's decision to allow POLISARIO Front leader Brahim Ghali to treat Covid-19 in a hospital in northern Spain under this surname. Following the revelation of Gurry's departure, thousands of refugees suddenly arrive on the Spanish coast of Ceuta in North Africa. 

Spain claims that Morocco has abolished the short Moroccan border patrols, which facilitated the influx. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares will travel to the Moroccan capital Rabat in the next two weeks to confirm the country's new position. 

When Albarez became foreign minister, Arancha's successor González Laya was recalled after Morocco complained that Galli had secretly visited Spain.

The Spanish association, which supports Western Sahara's claims to self-determination, called Madrid's turn a "new betrayal for the Saharawi people." CEAS-Sahara said in a statement on Saturday that "a political solution that is fair, realistic and can only be chosen by the Saharawi people is a referendum on self-determination under international law."

CEAS-Sahara adds that the people of Moroccan Sahara will not accept autonomy within Morocco. Western Sahara is a large, arid region in Northwest  Africa, larger than the United Kingdom, but with a population of less than 600,000. In 1979, a UN resolution recognizing the right of the nations to deeply regretted the "Moroccan occupation.

Source: nytimes