France Recognizes Moroccan Sovereignty Over Western Sahara

France has shifted its stance, recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara, siding with Morocco in a long-standing territorial dispute. This move aligns France with a growing list of nations and is significant in light of France's influence in the UN Security Council. The autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 was endorsed by President Emmanuel Macron in a letter to King Mohammed VI.

In a significant geo-political shift, France has recognized Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara, altering a decades-old stance and joining a growing list of countries backing Morocco amid a stalled United Nations-mediated peace process.

In a letter to King Mohammed VI, President Emmanuel Macron endorsed the autonomy plan Morocco proposed in 2007, calling it the 'only basis' to solve the conflict, dealing a blow to the pro-independence Polisario Front, which has claimed to represent the indigenous Saharawi people since the end of Spanish colonial rule.

'The present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,' Macron wrote, adding that France would act consistently with this position at both national and international levels. This marks a significant diplomatic win for Morocco and follows similar recognitions from the United States, Israel, Spain, and several African nations.

A high-ranking Moroccan official, speaking on condition of anonymity, termed it 'a game-changer' amid international shifts toward Morocco's position. They highlighted France's role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, which oversees the decades-long peacekeeping mission between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.