The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic’s official press agency released a statement condemning France’s intentions to invest in the Western Sahara region via the French Development Agency (AFD). As per the authorities in Western Sahara, France’s proposal to fund Moroccan development initiatives in the contested Sahrawi areas could be viewed as an aggressive action.
This comes on the heels of France’s Minister of Foreign Trade, Franck Riester, concluding a two-day visit to Morocco. As trading allies, both nations are set on amplifying their collaboration in areas including aeronautics, rail, and energy. Riester confirmed this investment and cooperation, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to announce a fresh chapter in Franco-Moroccan ties, one that would bridge both private sectors. However, the Sahrawi people believe that France’s aspirations to curry favor with Moroccan projects in the region is a direct endorsement of Morocco’s claim over Western Sahara.
The crux of the issue lies in the ongoing territorial dispute over Western Sahara between Morocco and the Algeria-backed indigenous independence movement – the Polisario Front. Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, has been under the control of Moroccan and Mauritanian forces since 1975 after Spain withdrew based on the Madrid Accords, which have failed to gain international recognition. The Polisario Front claimed sovereignty over the region as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic since 1976.
This claim to sovereignty led Mauritania to ink a peace treaty with the Polisario Front, leading to its withdrawal from Western Sahara in 1979. Morocco, however, maintains its presence in the region, escalating the prolonged conflict with the Polisario Front over its territorial claims on a significant part of the Western Sahara region.
This matter has earned the ire of the UN with Morocco openly flouting the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s advisory opinion on the Western Sahara region that rejects territorial and sovereignty claims. Despite the UN advocating a cease-fire agreement in 1991, it has been neglected since late 2020.
In an effort to resolve the dispute, Western Sahara and Morocco agreed to a settlement plan with the UN establishing the United Nations Mission for a Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). The aim of the referendum was to end the territorial disputes between Morocco and the Polisario Front, providing two paths – incorporation into Morocco or the independence of Western Sahara. Initially scheduled for 1992, disagreements over voter eligibility between both parties have delayed the referendum, which is yet to take place.