Sahara: Polisario meets UK minister over Morocco Autonomy Plan
Britain now joins with the US, France and other western allies in supporting Morocco’s plan to resolve the 50 year conflict over Western Sahara. It comes as a delegation from the Polisario Front was sent to London, determined to reverse UK support for Morocco’s ‘Autonomy Plan.’
According to The North Africa Post August 10th, the Polisario delegation arrived in the UK after the government expressed support for the Moroccan Autonomy Plan on June 1st 2025.
David Lammy, the UK Foreign Secretary, described the proposal as being “the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis for settling the dispute.” Whilst the comments do endorse Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Plan, the UK government has not, as of yet, endorsed Morocco’s claim of complete sovereignty over the territory, contrary to suggestions made by The North Africa Post.
After the delegation headed up by Mohamed Yeslem Beisat arrived at the Foreign Office headquarters to discuss the dispute with Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer, the North Africa Post suggested that the meeting had ‘not produced the results expected’ by the Polisario Front.
In a press statement after the meeting, the Polisario Front stated that there must be an “adherence to the fundamental principles of the UN Charter” and a “respect for human rights and the rights of peoples.”
Although a ‘pledge of support’ or a reversal of the UK’s position did not manifest, neither the outcome of the meeting, nor the UK’s backing of the Autonomy Plan itself, completely rules out aspirations of an independent Western Sahara. Despite suggestions that the UK now definitively backs Morocco’s position, in reality the government still calls for “a lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.”
Even with David Lammy saying that the government would now advance its Autonomy Plan position through diplomatic channels, the UK makes it clear that any resolution must be a negotiated one, giving a great opportunity to the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SARD) to be heard.
While Britain and Morocco align more closely on the proposal, Algeria-a long-time ally and supporter of the Sahrawi cause-continues to gain greater international prominence and regional economic influence. Despite this success, the Polisario Front itself is increasingly suffering from political turmoil, with members signing petitions for new leadership, the group’s alleged incursions into Mauritania raising tensions, as well as rising discontent among Sahrawi People for both domestic realities and its international relations.
Although Britain appears open to pursuing diplomacy with the Polisario Front, its ally across the Atlantic-another supporter of the Morocco Plan-is furthering its position in a very different way, as the US Congress moves to add the Polisario Front to the FTO list (Foreign Terrorist Organisation).
The geopolitical chessboard now shaken up, resolving the dispute over Western Sahara may still be a far-away prospect, but not an impossible one.
The North Africa Post, Maghrebi.org
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