UNITED KINGDOM DECLARES SUPPORT FOR MOROCCAN PROPOSAL FOR THE SAHARA

On June 1, 2025, the United Kingdom officially announced its support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco for Western Sahara, a disputed region for almost 50 years. This decision, announced by Foreign Secretary David Lammy during a visit to Rabat, puts the UK alongside other permanent members of the UN Security Council, such as the United States and France, who had already declared their support for this proposal.

David Lammy, UK Foreign Secretary, with Nasser Bourita, Moroccan Foreign Minister, after the signing of the joint declaration. Photo by Jalal Morchidi/EPA.

Presented in 2007, Morocco's autonomy plan proposes that Western Sahara, rich in natural resources and with strategic access to the Atlantic, should retain Moroccan sovereignty, offering local populations administrative autonomy. This proposal aims to resolve one of the longest-running territorial conflicts on the African continent, involving the Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front, a separatist movement supported by Algeria.

British support for Morocco's plan is described as a “credible, viable and pragmatic” solution to the conflict. David Lammy emphasized that resolving the dispute is crucial to strengthening stability in North Africa. In addition, the UK has pledged to support the plan through bilateral, economic, regional and international efforts.

This change in stance represents a significant evolution in British foreign policy, which previously adopted a neutral position on the status of Western Sahara. The decision comes after calls from British MPs, including 30 members of Parliament, who urged the government to recognize the autonomy plan as a path to peace and stability in the region.

However, this British position is not without controversy. Algeria, the Polisario Front's main supporter, has expressed its displeasure at the decision, and the Polisario Front has yet to react officially to the British support. In addition, the UN continues to advocate a referendum to determine the final status of the territory, although this process has been repeatedly postponed due to disagreements over the eligibility of voters.

The UK's support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara represents a significant change in its foreign policy, aligning itself with other Western allies (such as France, the United States and Spain) and strengthening economic and diplomatic ties with Morocco. Portugal, however, has yet to define its position at a time when Morocco is gaining significant Western support for its proposal for the Sahara.