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Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal

The Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal is an initiative proposed by Morocco in 2006 as a possible solution to the Western Sahara conflict. In 2006, the Moroccan Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS) proposed a plan[1] for the autonomy of Western Sahara and made visits to a number of countries to explain the proposal. The Spanish approach to regional autonomy has been named as a possible model for Western Saharan autonomy, mentioning specifically the cases of the Canary Islands, the Basque Country, Andalusia, or Catalonia. The plan was presented to the UN Security Council in April 2007[2] and received the backing of the United States and France.[3] This initiative constituted the main ground for the Moroccan proposal at the Manhasset negotiations.

The proposal was following the two failed proposals of the Baker Plan, which insisted on an independence referendum for Western Sahara after five years of autonomy; the plan was rejected by Morocco. A proposal was also published by Polisario to the UN on 10 April 2007, a day before the Moroccan proposal. The UN Security Council unanimously voted for Resolution 1754 on 30 April 2007 calling for talks of both parties, appreciating the proposal of Morocco and taking note of Polisario's proposal. Based on the proposal, there were four UN-sponsored peace talks between delegations of Polisario and Morocco on 18–19 June 2007, 10–11 August 2007, 7–9 January 2008, and 18–19 March 2008, all of which were held in Manhasset, New York.

Background

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Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1975.[4] A war erupted between those countries and the Sahrawi national liberation movement, the Polisario Front, which proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) with a government in exile in Tindouf, Algeria. Mauritania withdrew in 1979, and Morocco eventually secured control of most of the territory, including all the major cities and natural resources.[5] Polisario was formed in 1973 to fight for the rights of the Sahrawi people. Polisario attacked Moroccan positions many times and have retaliated. Continued war was waged between Polisario and Morocco over prominence in the region, with Polisario being backed by Algeria and Morocco being backed by the United States, France, and Saudi Arabia.[6]

Interim wars

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Morocco started building a massive wall to reduce the attacks and military activity. During November to December 1987, a United Nations peace mission arrived to assess the military and political impact of the wall. They sought a face-to-face meeting with Polisario and Morocco to arrive at a ceasefire and initiate proceedings for a referendum. They had different meetings with Morocco, Algeria and Polisario and proposed a resolution which was passed unopposed. During the time, Algeria, which had been a long-time ally of Polisario, held secret meetings with Morocco at the foreign ministry level. By May 1988, both countries announced that diplomatic relations between the countries would be restored. During July 1988, Moroccan King Hassan expressed his support for a referendum, but declined to name Western Sahara an independent state, but a special administrative region. He also denied meeting with Polisario. In spite of the UN's continued effort, the denial introduced criticism of Morocco's positions by Polisario. King Hassan agreed to meet representatives from SADR. During 1989, Algeria claimed that it would continue to support SADR amidst growing concern of Algeria breaking links with SADR. King Hassan's elongated delay frustrated SADR and they started an attack.[7] During the first week of October 1989, Polisario started attacks on Moroccan positions in Guelta-Zemmour, which forced Moroccan troops 25 kilometers inside the defensive wall. The group also claimed that they secured the 1st Light Security Group of the 4th and 5th Rapid Intervention Force of Morocco. They also attacked Moroccan positions in the North towards Hauza on October 11.[7] Following the attacks King Hassan called off the second meeting with SADR representatives.[8]

Baker Plan

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The fighting continued till 1 September 1991 when a UN mission brokered peace a ceasefire in the region. There have been various proposals by both the parties in the United Nations. James Baker, an American diplomat in the region worked out a couple of settlement plans, called Baker Plan after 1997. In the first plan, he proposed autonomy to the region with foreign affairs and defense managed by Morocco. The plan was rejected by Polisario, indicating that any proposal without independence could not be accepted. They also argued that the count of natives should be based on the census of 1975 and not based on migrants from Morocco in the interim period.[9] The second proposal called for a referendum after five years of autonomy. The plan was accepted by Morocco initially, but later rejected quoting that any plan with proposal of independence could not be accepted.[10] The plan was rejected by Morocco and Baker left the position in 2004.[11]

Proposal

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Moroccan-backed advisory council on Western Sahara (CORCAS) submitted a proposal to the United Nations in April 2006 that would grant autonomy to the people of Western Sahara. As per the plan, the Sahawaris would run their government under Moroccan sovereignty. It also indicated that Morocco will control defense and foreign affairs. The Moroccan authorities indicated that the failure of the proposal would increase Islamic fundamental ideas and terrorism in the region around the Sahel. Hamid Chabar, the Moroccan representative of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara quoted that "There are a lot of young people in the Sahel who are leaning towards radical Islam, with groups such as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat gaining ground". The claims were denied by Polisario which stated that it never supported terrorism. The autonomy proposal was rejected by the front in February 2004 soon as it was proposed, while Morocco sought the backing of the United States to take it forward.[11] A proposal was also published by Polisario to the UN on 10 April 2007, a day before the Moroccan proposal. The UN Security unanimously voted for Resolution 1754 on 30 April 2007, calling for talks of both parties, appreciating the proposal of Morocco and taking note of Polisario's proposal. Based on the proposal, there were four UN-sponsored peace talks between the delegation of Polisario and Morocco 18–19 June 2007, 10–11 August 2007, 7–9 January 2008, and 7–9 January 2008, all of which were held in New York City.[12]

In a 2007 letter to President George W. Bush, 173 members of the US Congress endorsed the plan.[13] In a letter to President Obama in 2009, 233 US congressmen endorsed the plan.[14] In 2010, a letter to Secretary of State Clinton backing the Moroccan plan for autonomy, was signed by 54 Senators.[15]

2022

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On 19 March 2022, the Spanish and Moroccan press suggested the president of the Spanish Government had provisionally accepted this proposal, although parliamentary ratification was not assured.[16]

International support

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Rank Country Date Remarks Ref.
1   United States 2020-12-10 On 10 December 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump proclaimed that the United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. [17]
3   Spain 2022-03-18 “Spain considers the Moroccan autonomy initiative presented in 2007, as the most serious, realistic, and credible basis for resolving the dispute." Sanchez further described the extensive Moroccan efforts to work within the UN's framework to find a peaceful solution to the decades-old conflict. [18]
4   France 2022-03-22 France reiterated, Monday, its support to the Moroccan autonomy plan as a "serious and credible basis for discussions" for the resolution of the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. [19][20]
5   Guatemala 2022-09-23 “Guatemala reiterated its clear position on the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, considering that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the solution to this dispute and announces the decision to open a consulate in the city of Dakhla to take advantage of its economic potential and its openness to the rest of the African continent,” said Guatemalan Foreign Minister Mario Bucaro Flores. [21]
6   Somalia 2022-09-23 Foreign Minister Mahmoud Abdi Hassan’s call for cooperation follows years of Somali continuous support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara which was translated on multiple occasions into concrete actions such as opening a consulate in Dakhla. [22]
7   Cape Verde 2023-05-09 The Republic of Cabo Verde has reaffirmed its steadfast support to Morocco's territorial integrity and the Moroccan autonomy plan offering a realistic solution to the Sahara regional conflict. [23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Sahel, El Mostafa (11 April 2007). "Letter dated 11 April 2007 from the Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council". United Nations Security Council. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  2. ^ Ban, Ki-moon (13 April 2007). Report of the Secretary-General on the Situation Concerning Western Sahara (Report). United Nations Security Council. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  3. ^ "UN Security Council delays vote on W. Sahara". Reuters Africa. 27 April 2007. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  4. ^ González Campo, Julio. "Documento de Trabajo núm. 15 DT-2004. Las pretensiones de Marruecos sobre los territorios españoles en el norte de África (1956–2002)" (PDF) (in Spanish). Real Instituto Elcano. p. 6.
  5. ^ "Report of the Secretary-General on the situation concerning Western Sahara (paragraph 37, p. 10)" (PDF). 2 March 1993. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  6. ^ The Air Force role in low-intensity conflict. DIANE Publishing. 1986. p. 47. ISBN 9781428928275.
  7. ^ a b Seddon, David (1989). "Polisario and the Struggle for the Western Sahara: Recent Developments, 1987–1989". Review of African Political Economy. 16 (45/46). Taylor & Francis, Ltd.: 132–142. doi:10.1080/03056248908703833. JSTOR 4006018.
  8. ^ "Chronology July 16, 1989 – October 15, 1989". Middle East Journal. 44 (1). Middle East Institute: 105. 1990. JSTOR 4328058.
  9. ^ Miguel, C. Ruiz (2005). "El largo camino jurídico y político hacia el Plan Baker II. ¿Estación de término?". Anuario Mexicano de Derecho Internacional. 5: 461.
  10. ^ "Western Sahara Referendum". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Morocco offers autonomy in Western Sahara". The Washington Times. Rabat, Morocco. 7 February 2006. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  12. ^ Milestones in Western Sahara Conflict (PDF) (Report). UNmissions.org. p. 6. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  13. ^ Copy of the letter with commentary (PDF) (Report). Moroccan Authority. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  14. ^ Letter to Morocco (PDF) (Report). Moroccan Authority. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  15. ^ Senate Letter to Morocco (PDF) (Report). Moroccan Authority. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  16. ^ "El Gobierno anuncia una "nueva etapa" con Marruecos: Albares irá a Rabat en días y después lo hará Sánchez" [The Government announces a "new stage" with Morocco: Albares will go to Rabat in days and then Sánchez will do so]. 20minutos (in Spanish). 18 March 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  17. ^ Fischer, David T. "Virtual Presence Post for Western Sahara". U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Morocco. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  18. ^ Kasraoui, Safaa (18 March 2022). "Spain Officially Endorses Morocco's Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara". Morocco World News. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Moroccan Sahara: France Reiterates its Support for Autonomy Plan as 'Serious and Credible Basis'". Kingdom of Morocco. 22 March 2022.
  20. ^ Kasraoui, Safaa (21 March 2022). "Western Sahara: France Reiterates Support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan". Morocco World News. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  21. ^ Anouar, Souad (23 September 2022). "Western Sahara: Guatemala to Open Consulate in Morocco's Dakhla". Morocco World News. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  22. ^ Anouar, Souad (24 September 2022). "Somalia to Open Embassy in Rabat, Consulate in Dakhla". Morocco World News. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Cape Verde Says Morocco's Autonomy Plan Offers Realistic Solution to Sahara Issue". North Africa Post. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
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