Moroccan diplomacy regarding the Sahara issue has adopted, in recent years, a proactive approach grounded in established historical legitimacy, solid legal arguments, and ambitious development projects, said on Monday in Rabat, the Speaker of the House of Councillors, Mohamed Ould Errachid.
Speaking at the opening of a symposium titled “Parliament and the Moroccan Sahara issue: for efficient parallel diplomacy and effective institutional advocacy,” Ould Errachid noted that this strategic shift has led to significant progress, particularly in terms of growing international support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative, widely viewed as the only serious and credible solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.
He highlighted that this substantial support has come from key partners of the Kingdom, including the United States, Spain, and France, as well as several African, Arab, and European countries.
In addition to this accelerated international momentum, Ould Errachid underscored the strong internal consensus and national unity around the Sahara cause, under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. He emphasized the collective, responsible, and ongoing mobilization in defense of Morocco’s territorial integrity, which he described as a vital asset reinforcing the credibility and effectiveness of the national campaign.
Ould Errachid commended the key role played by national forces represented in Parliament, political parties, trade unions, and business associations, which have consistently been at the forefront of defending Morocco’s position on the Sahara issue. These actors, he said, have built strong positions, undertaken meaningful diplomatic initiatives, and led impactful institutional advocacy efforts both at home and abroad.
He stressed that this advocacy now forms a cornerstone of Morocco’s diplomatic achievements, enabling the House of Councillors to play a proactive and influential role in the national effort to safeguard territorial sovereignty and national unity. The Upper House, he noted, is also strengthening its presence in regional and international parliamentary fora.
Development, he added, remains a defining pillar of Morocco’s vision for affirming sovereignty over the Sahara. He pointed to the profound transformation underway in the Kingdom’s southern provinces, driven by large-scale royal development programs and strategic African-oriented initiatives, mainly the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and the Atlantic Initiatives.
“These are not merely infrastructure projects,” Ould Errachid said, “but strategic foundations aimed at redefining Morocco’s geopolitical role, positioning the Moroccan Sahara as a hub for stability and development, and a gateway linking North and Sub-Saharan Africa, thus bolstering regional integration and reinforcing Morocco’s leadership in the region.”
He emphasized the importance of parliamentary diplomacy as a key partner in promoting this momentum on the international stage, highlighting the need to showcase the effectiveness of the development model in the southern provinces and defend its strategic dimensions to strengthen Morocco’s image as a reliable regional and continental actor.
The unprecedented momentum surrounding the Sahara issue, he said, has compelled members of the House of Councillors to fulfill their national and constitutional responsibilities by adopting parliamentary resolutions in support of Morocco’s territorial integrity and its bold autonomy initiative, while also cementing Morocco’s pioneering role in addressing development challenges and advancing South-South cooperation.
Ould Errachid concluded that the House of Councillors continues to strengthen its strategic position within regional parliamentary unions and expand its bilateral relations through the signing of numerous cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding, as well as hosting multilateral events that have significantly highlighted Morocco’s leadership on the regional and international scenes.
Several of these initiatives, he said, have culminated in the signing of Joint Declarations in Laayoune, all reaffirming support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and its sovereignty over its entire territory.
MAP:05 mai 2025
