Western Sahara: Morocco’s UN envoy praises Donald Trump
Morocco’s UN envoy has highlighted US President Donald Trump’s role in recognising Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara, according to the Moroccan government-friendly North Africa Post and agencies on November 10th.
Omar Hilale, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the UN, told Newsmax’s “Saturday Report” that the UN Security Council’s October 31st vote to endorse the Moroccan Autonomy Plan (Resolution 2797) was a “moment of unity.”
The plan would grant the Western Sahara limited self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty, and is described as “a most feasible solution” to the 50-year conflict between Morocco and Algeria over the region’s sovereignty.
Hilale added, “History will remember President Trump as the first leader of a major power to recognise Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.”
This statement referenced Trump’s 2020 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty, which is now supported by 130 countries. In a November 5th social media post, Trump’s senior advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, said that Morocco’s proposal was the “sole foundation for a just and lasting solution.”
This sentiment was echoed by US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, who called the resolution a “credible and realistic Autonomy Proposal.” Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, also expressed optimism about resolving the conflict, saying on October 20th that “there will be a peace agreement, in my opinion, within 60 days.”
Despite widespread support for Morocco’s plan from the US administration and the global community alike, the Autonomy Plan has faced criticism over allegations that it denies the Sahrawi people, whose ancestral land is the disputed territory, their right to self-determination.
Algeria called for a referendum ahead of the UN vote on October 30th, despite there being no clear electoral roll due to the Sahrawi people residing in both the Western Sahara and refugee camps in Morocco.
US diplomat and former National Security Advisor John Bolton has expressed his conviction that self-determination is the most viable solution to the conflict, which began when Spanish colonial rule ended in 1975.
Bolton claimed that the UN’s endorsement of Morocco’s proposal “shows the true weakness of the United Nations, which issues a simple and easily executable resolution that everyone agrees on, then one party changes its mind, and the whole thing collapses.”
He has also dismissed claims that the Algerian-backed separatist Polisario Front is linked to terrorist groups. This contradicts the US administration’s position, which has been urged by Morocco to designate the militia as a terrorist organisation.
North Africa Post and agencies, Maghrebi.org
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