By African View Staff Writer
In a significant geopolitical move, the United Kingdom has officially voiced support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, calling it a "serious and credible" path forward. This endorsement adds London’s weight to an already growing list of global powers, including the United States and France, backing Morocco’s vision for the disputed territory.
The move is being celebrated in Rabat as a diplomatic victory, while prompting concern in Algiers and among supporters of the Polisario Front, which has long sought full independence for Western Sahara.
Western Sahara, a vast and largely desert territory on Africa’s northwest coast, has been the subject of dispute since Spain withdrew in 1975. Morocco annexed much of the territory, leading to conflict with the Polisario Front, which declared the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and continues to seek independence with the backing of Algeria.
The United Nations considers Western Sahara a "non-self-governing territory," and while numerous peace plans and negotiations have occurred, a final resolution has remained elusive.
Put forth in 2007, Morocco’s autonomy plan proposes allowing Western Sahara to govern itself as a semi-autonomous region under Moroccan sovereignty. The plan offers local governance in internal affairs: such as education, local policing, and development—while Rabat retains control over foreign policy and defense.
According to the British Foreign Office, “The UK considers the Moroccan autonomy plan to be a serious and credible basis for a solution agreed between the parties.” The statement signals a notable pivot from decades of formal neutrality by many European nations.
While Morocco welcomed the UK’s support as an “important step forward,” Algeria, a staunch supporter of the Polisario Front, criticized the move, calling it "a regrettable alignment with occupation."
The African Union remains split, with several member states recognizing the SADR while others back Morocco’s plan.
The United Nations has consistently pushed for a referendum on self-determination, a goal complicated by disagreements over voter eligibility and political will. The UK's backing of Morocco’s autonomy plan may shift momentum toward a negotiated political solution instead of a referendum.
This diplomatic development is more than a regional matter. It has implications for: African unity and the African Union’s integrity; Geopolitical alliances, especially between North Africa, the EU, and Gulf States and also plays a significant role as an Economic corridors, as Morocco positions Western Sahara as a key hub in its trans-African trade strategy.
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