HE National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan from President Joe Biden’s administration disturbed the pro-Moroccan cyberspace with a message on the social network X (formerly Twitter) in which he used a map of Morocco that did not include Western Sahara.
The message was published last Wednesday, but it was not until this Tuesday that pro-Moroccan users of the network noticed the situation and claim to be White House I would fix it map.
Rabat thinks this land belongs to him Occupied this place with the Green March in 1975 and after Spain abdicated its responsibilities as an occupying power. However, the United Nations 17 regions awaiting decolonization and advocates a self-determination referendum. Minurso has a mission to hold this referendum, led by the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy, senior diplomat Staffan de Mistura.
Self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) Controls 20% of Western Sahara’s territory and claims that the remaining 80% is controlled by Morocco. It is led from refugee camps in Tindouf (Algeria) by Brahim Ghali, who is also the general secretary of the Polisario Front.
United States location in the Sahara
The US stance on the conflict is controversial. In December 2020, Donald Trump announced that from that date the United States “He accepts that he owns all of his lands. Western sahra Part of the Kingdom of Morocco“and said Rabat’s plan to grant autonomy to the region under Moroccan sovereignty was “the only valid solution.”
Joe Biden’s administration has not officially retracted this declaration. However, it voted in favor of relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council (the last one in 2022) encouraging the parties to restart negotiations “with the aim of reaching a just, lasting and acceptable political solution”. Them The right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination“So, in addition to promoting a referendum solution, something Rabat rejects, it also recognizes the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
Beyond the signed texts and approved decisions, the Biden Administration’s actions indicate a change in Donald Trump’s stance on the Western Sahara issue. For example, Trump did not open a consulate in Dakhla (formerly Spanish Villa Cisneros, a city in the Sahara) as he promised.
In the official note published by the US Embassy in Rabat a few weeks ago, after the meeting of White House Middle East and North Africa director Joshua Harris with Moroccan Foreign Minister Naser Burita, the United States stated that the United States “Morocco Autonomy Plan” is as follows: evaluates: serious, believable and realistic and a potential approach to realizing the aspirations of the people of Western Sahara.” It’s a good plan, but it’s only one of many possible plans; another could be the self-determination referendum advocated by the United Nations. Pedro Sánchez won the VI last year. He went much further in his letter to Muhammad: the autonomy plan is now considered by Spain as follows: “more serious, realistic and believable.”
Joshua Harris also visited Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria’s Tindouf region a few weeks ago. He met with Brahim Ghali, secretary general of the Polisario Front, Morocco’s arch-enemy. Harris stated that the USA “supports the UN political process.” a political solution”In Western Sahara. A diplomatA durable and dignified solution It is based on the spirit of “realism and commitment” for the people of Western Sahara. In an interview with the Algerian media, Harris herself insisted: “Washington is strongly compatible with the international political process in Western Sahara”.