Nasser Bourita, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Living Abroad, has sharply criticized Algeria over its stance on the Sahara issue. He pointed out that the insistence of Algeria’s leaders on maintaining a state of stagnation regarding this artificial conflict has had a significant impact on the security of the Maghreb region, the Sahel countries, and the Mediterranean coasts, particularly affecting the fate of the two neighboring peoples.
In this regard, Bourita, in a statement to the French newspaper Le Point, emphasized that all conditions are now favorable for making progress on the Sahara issue. He stated, “The autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco now has the support of over 112 countries worldwide, including more than twenty in the Americas, notably the United States, nearly three-quarters of African nations, as well as 20 out of 27 European Union member states.”
Conversely, Morocco’s Foreign Minister stressed that Morocco does not interfere in other countries’ relations with Algeria. He said, “We are exclusively focused on our bilateral relations with our partners and leave each country free to develop the ties it wishes with Algeria.” He added that this position reflects a firm conviction of King Mohammed VI. Bourita further emphasized, “If Algeria views our strengthening of relations with certain countries as a threat, that is for Algeria to interpret. As for us, we do not base our relationships with any country on its relations with another. Our priority today is to strengthen our relations according to our own interests.”
Bourita also discussed the recent state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Morocco, noting that it marked a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two countries. Macron’s announcement in the Moroccan Parliament reaffirmed France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.
In a related context, Bourita confirmed that France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara is part of a broader dynamic initiated by King Mohammed VI years ago. This dynamic has been marked by numerous formal recognitions of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, with around thirty consulates opening in Laayoune and Dakhla and increasing support for the autonomy plan as a solution to this regional conflict.
