Britain's foreign minister, David Lammy, said on Sunday (1 June) that the UK considers Morocco's autonomy proposal as the most feasible basis to resolve the conflict over Western Sahara, according to Reuters.
The conflict in the region pits Morocco, which considers the territory as its own, against the Algeria-backed Polisario front, which seeks an independent state in the desert territory. The autonomy plan submitted by Morocco in 2007 stands "as the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute, Lammy told reporters after talks with Morocco's foreign minister.
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Colonialists are aligning, while the UN has been recommending a referendum for the future of the region for decades...
France, the US, Spain, and the UK have either actively supported or passively enabled Morocco’s claim — despite UN resolutions clearly backing the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
⚖️ What the UN Says
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Western Sahara is classified by the UN as a "non-self-governing territory".
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The International Court of Justice (1975) found no sovereign ties between Morocco and Western Sahara that would affect the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.
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The UN promised a referendum on independence in 1991, but it has never taken place — largely due to Morocco’s obstruction and lack of pressure from Western powers.
🌍 Western powers on their position
🇫🇷 France: Protector of the Monarchy
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France is Morocco’s strongest backer in Europe and at the UN Security Council.
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Motivated by strategic, economic and security ties, including arms sales, counterterrorism cooperation, and influence in the Sahel.
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France has repeatedly blocked stronger UN language on human rights in Western Sahara and opposes any expansion of MINURSO’s mandate to include rights monitoring.
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The French elite, including former colonial officials, see Morocco as a key ally and a pillar of ‘stability’.
🇺🇸 United States: Trump’s recognition
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In 2020, Donald Trump recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for Morocco normalising ties with Israel (Abraham Accords).
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The Biden administration has not reversed this recognition, despite its illegality under international law — effectively cementing the US as a supporter of Morocco's claim.
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Strategic reasons include military cooperation, intelligence-sharing, and using Morocco as a stable regional partner.
🇪🇸 Spain: Post-colonial Complicity
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Spain was the colonial power in Western Sahara until 1975, when it illegally ceded the territory to Morocco and Mauritania under the Madrid Accords (never recognised by the UN).
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While it officially supports a UN process, Spain has grown increasingly pro-Moroccan, especially under pressure over migration and territorial disputes (e.g., Ceuta and Melilla).
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In 2022, the Spanish PM endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan — a reversal of decades of supposed neutrality, likely driven by diplomatic blackmail from Rabat.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom: Silent endorsement... until today
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The UK had not formally recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara until today but it has done very little to support Sahrawi rights or push for a referendum.
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Like others, Britain prioritises trade, security, and regional stability — and avoids confrontation with France or the US on this issue.
🛢️ Strategic interests trump principles
Across all four countries, a common pattern emerges:
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Economic interests (especially in phosphate, fisheries, arms, and trade).
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Security alliances, particularly counterterrorism and migration control.
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Political expediency — treating Morocco as a regional "moderate" ally.
Self-determination for the Sahrawi people becomes a sacrificed principle, despite decades of UN resolutions.
What This Means
It’s a stark example of how colonial legacies endure, and how international law is often selectively applied — upheld against adversaries, ignored when allies are involved.
For Sahrawis, it’s a prolonged betrayal: a people waiting decades for a vote they were promised, watching the world’s most powerful democracies enable their erasure.
