Reaffirming Franco-Moroccan Cooperation on the Western Sahara Issue
In a letter sent by French President Emmanuel Macron to King Mohammed VI, Paris positions the present and future of Western Sahara within Morocco’s sovereignty. It endorses Rabat’s autonomy plan as the framework in which this matter should be resolved. The communication notes that France’s support for the 2007 Moroccan autonomy proposal is clear and steady, and that this plan now constitutes the sole basis for a politically just and enduring negotiated settlement in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions.
These statements show France backing Morocco’s autonomy proposal for Western Sahara, a move that had been anticipated by Paris in recent weeks and that has sparked anger in Algiers, France’s other major Maghreb ally. The letter, released early Tuesday, coincides with the throne celebrations in Morocco marking twenty-five years of King Mohammed VI’s rule.
In Macron’s message to the Moroccan monarch, he also argues that the Moroccan proposal “is now the only framework to achieve a fair, lasting, and negotiated political solution” in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions. He adds that the moment has arrived to make progress and invites all parties to come together with a view toward a political agreement. Rabat has welcomed the message as an important and meaningful milestone, according to Morocco’s national news agency, which distributed the official statement. It is emphasized that France is a member of the UN Security Council. Morocco’s foreign ministry regards France’s stance as a turning point and notes that numerous other countries have expressed support for the autonomy plan, as reported by EFE.
Franco-Moroccan Reconciliation
Paris and Rabat renewed and deepened their ties in early 2024 after years of diplomatic ups and downs. In February, France’s Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné visited Morocco to symbolize a thaw, stating that progress is possible regarding the Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara and adding that Morocco can rely on France to defend its national priorities today and tomorrow.
This gesture had been anticipated by Rabat for some time. Morocco has been pressing Paris to join Madrid, Washington, and others in backing autonomy for Western Sahara—a plan that France sees as affecting its ties with Algeria, its former colonial power in the region.
Algeria’s Frustration
The new information has drawn a sharp response from Algerian authorities. Last Thursday, Algiers published a statement expressing strong disapproval and deeming the move unexpected, untimely, and counterproductive. It even called the French government the sole responsible party and warned of consequences. The Algerian account suggests that Paris briefed Algerian authorities on the decision before making it public.
Relations between France and Algeria have long been strained. In 2022, Macron visited Algiers to outline a renewed partnership, and the decision to back Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara could alter that dynamic. It mirrors a past incident when Spain shifted its stance, which led to a freeze in Algerian ties that remains unresolved even years later.
Morocco’s Prime Minister in Paris During the Olympic Games
The Olympic Games accelerated a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Morocco’s Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, who traveled to Paris for the event and to engage with visiting heads of state at the Elysée Palace. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune had planned a formal September visit to Paris, but reports indicate he canceled his trip following Macron’s letter.
Spain’s 2022 pivot—supporting Morocco’s autonomy plan as the best solution for Western Sahara—also marked a turning point. The Moroccan royal court announced the shift in Madrid through a letter sent by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to King Mohammed VI.