The United Kingdom has officially endorsed Morocco’s proposal for autonomy in Western Sahara, marking a significant departure from its historically neutral stance on the decades-long territorial dispute. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the policy shift during a visit to the Moroccan capital, Rabat, stating that Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan is “the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute.” This development aligns the UK with other major powers, including the United States and France, in supporting Morocco’s initiative for the region.
The UK’s backing is linked to agreements aimed at boosting collaboration on critical infrastructure projects for the 2030 men’s football World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal. Lammy highlighted that the deal would allow “British businesses to score big on football’s biggest stage,” with a procurement agreement set to “create a unique foundation for UK companies to access public tenders in Morocco,” particularly in sectors like healthcare and airport upgrades in Casablanca.
Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita hailed the UK’s new position as a “historic moment” and “one of great significance,” suggesting it would contribute to “a momentum to speed up the solution of the conflict.”
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International Reactions and Regional Implications
The decision has elicited varied responses. Algeria, a key supporter of the Polisario Front, which seeks full independence for Western Sahara, expressed its “regret” over Lammy’s announcement. The Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs contended that the Moroccan autonomy plan, now 18 years old, “has never been presented to the Sahrawis as a basis for negotiation, nor has it ever been taken seriously by the successive UN envoys.” Algeria described the internationally-backed initiative as an “empty” proposal incapable of offering a “serious and credible solution.”
Western Sahara, a mineral-rich former Spanish colony, is considered a “non-self-governing territory” by the United Nations. Morocco controls most of the territory, while the Polisario Front holds a smaller part. The African Union recognises Western Sahara’s independence, but an increasing number of countries, now including the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands, have shifted to support Morocco’s position.
Despite UN peacekeeping efforts since 1991, a long-promised referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people has never materialised. The joint communique from the UK and Morocco reaffirmed respect for “the non-use of force for the settlement of conflicts and their support for the principle of respect for self-determination,” with British diplomats indicating this came in return for business deals and a new Moroccan commitment to restart negotiations and publish an updated autonomy plan.
Human rights advocate and legal expert Magdalene Moonsamy offered a critical perspective on the UK’s move in an interview with Salaamedia. “The one thing our people need to understand, both in Israel and the Western Sahara, is nothing you are seeing with your eye on a television is the truth and nothing but the truth because there is a third truth behind the scenes,” she stated.
Moonsamy further opined, “We have to place things into context. The UK, because of its relations with the United States, will extend its hand to Morocco because Morocco has extended its hand to Israel. This autonomy plan is just a pipe dream. Morocco woke up one morning with a bad dream and this was it.” She also suggested that “Morocco is afraid of that referendum, because that referendum will include Moroccans voting in favour of the Western Sahara. It is a reason why Morocco is using every other form of propaganda to circumvent the progress that is needed in the region.”
Image credit: The Cradle
