UK endorses Morocco’s autonomy plan as credible solution for Western Sahara

In a significant diplomatic shift, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced on Sunday in Rabat that the United Kingdom now views Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara as the "most credible" foundation for resolving the decades-long dispute.

Speaking to the press during his official visit, Lammy stated that "the UK considers the autonomy proposal presented by Morocco in 2007 as the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis for a lasting settlement of the dispute."

This marks a turning point in Britain's stance, which had until now been aligned with the principle of self-determination for the Sahrawi people — a position traditionally backed by the United Nations.

Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, has been the center of a protracted territorial conflict. Though largely controlled by Morocco, the territory is still classified as “non-self-governing” by the UN. The conflict pits Morocco against the Polisario Front, an independence movement supported by Algeria, which seeks a referendum on self-determination.

The Moroccan autonomy plan, first proposed in 2007, offers limited self-rule under Moroccan sovereignty but has been rejected by the Polisario, who insist on full independence through a UN-backed referendum.

Lammy’s endorsement of Rabat’s proposal signals closer UK-Morocco ties and echoes similar moves by other Western countries, including the United States, which officially recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020.

The UK's recalibrated position is expected to have diplomatic ripple effects across the region, potentially reshaping the dynamics of one of Africa's longest-running territorial disputes.

Algeria "regrets" the United Kingdom’s support, announced on Sunday, for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara — a "non-self-governing territory" according to the United Nations, the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

"Algeria regrets the choice made by the United Kingdom to support Morocco’s autonomy plan. In its eighteen years of existence, this plan has never been presented to the Sahrawi people as a basis for negotiation, nor has it ever been taken seriously by the successive UN Envoys," the statement read.