Paris strengthens support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan despite recent diplomatic thaw with Algeria, which continues to push for an independence referendum
Soldecanarias.net / Adeje
Amid a sensitive diplomatic backdrop, France has firmly reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara, bolstering its ties with Rabat even as it rebuilds relations with Algeria, the main backer of the Polisario Front.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot left no room for doubt, stating that “the present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,” sending a clear geopolitical message in the Maghreb region.
This stance, previously echoed by President Emmanuel Macron, aligns France with other key international actors such as the United States, Germany, Spain, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates, who regard Morocco’s proposal as the most “serious, credible, and realistic” solution to the long-standing conflict.
Morocco’s Autonomy Plan envisions granting Western Sahara broad self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty, while maintaining central control over critical areas such as foreign policy and defense, in accordance with United Nations resolutions. The aim is to stabilize the region and promote economic development.
By contrast, the Polisario Front continues to call for an independence referendum—a plan that enjoys limited international support and faces major logistical and political obstacles, such as the challenge of establishing a reliable electoral census.
With this renewed endorsement, France is consolidating its role in a strategically vital region, balancing its historical ties with Algeria and its growing geopolitical partnership with Morocco, widely seen as a key anchor of stability in North Africa.
