Akhannouch reaffirms Morocco's Autonomy Plan for the Sahara as the only solution before the UN
- The Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara under Moroccan Sovereignty
- Ceasefire in Gaza, the final solution
- Morocco supports the Plan for the Future
Morocco has presented itself as a key player on the international stage. The Moroccan Prime Minister, Aziz Akhannouch, reiterated before the UN General Assembly Morocco's commitment to reach a political solution on Western Sahara and Palestine and to promote the economic integration of the Global South.
In this context, Aziz Akhannouch, Prime Minister of Morocco, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Nasser Bourita, and the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, attended the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The Committee will end on 27 September.
The Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara under Moroccan Sovereignty
Reaching a political solution to the problem of Western Sahara based exclusively on an autonomy initiative within a framework of territorial integrity is the only valid resolution.
During his speech, Aziz Akhannouch mentioned, in front of the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, and the Moroccan Ambassador to the UN, Omar Hilale, the constants of Morocco's position, reaffirmed by King Mohammed VI, which must be based on a serious political process.
It was stressed that the only valid political process is that established by the UN, with the participation of Algeria, and that the solution lies in Morocco's autonomy initiative. The importance of a ceasefire by the armed militias, as requested by the members of the Security Council, was also emphasised.
Backed by the recognition of more than 100 countries, 15 of which already have a consulate in the region, Morocco's sovereignty over the territory of Western Sahara sends a clear message: it is time to move towards a political solution through roundtables that leaves armed conflict and militia intervention behind.
Progress that goes hand in hand with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, specifically with Security Council Resolution 2703, adopted on 30 October 2023. On this resolution, the head of government expressed Morocco's support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General to resume talks on a political solution. The aim is to reach a realistic and lasting agreement, with the participation of the four key players.
In addition, the Prime Minister underlined the rapid progress made by the Moroccan Sahara in its development, which ranks among the highest at the national level. Thanks to the projects carried out in the new development model for the ‘southern provinces’, significant progress has been made. Akhannouch stressed the importance of the participation of the inhabitants of the region in political, economic and social life.
Ceasefire in Gaza, the final solution
In line with Morocco's commitment to the Middle East conflict, following the direction set by King Mohammed VI, President of the Al Quds Committee, to move from crisis management to the search for a final solution, the Prime Minister recalled the importance of not forgetting the plight of the Palestinian people despite the internal challenges facing our country.
For Moroccan diplomacy, the Gaza conflict is a matter of national importance. During his speech, the Prime Minister expressed his concern about the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, adding the voice of the Alawite country to that of other Islamic and Arab countries.
Above all, he highlighted the tragic situation in the Palestinian enclave where tens of thousands of civilians, including thousands of women and children, have been killed since Hamas militias attacked Israel on 7 October 2023.
Akhannouch said that Israeli actions and retaliation for the Hamas attack could be categorised as an attack against international law, calling it an ‘act of mass destruction’.
As part of the solution, the Moroccan head of government stressed the need to remove extremist factions from the conflict, regardless of which side they are on, so that a political framework can be created to ensure a just and lasting solution in the region.
‘A two-state solution is crucial to ensure security and stability in the region. This implies that Gaza should be part of the independent Palestinian state, together with East Jerusalem,’ Akhannouch said.
Finally, he stressed that the blockade in the negotiations is one of the main stumbling blocks preventing the resolution of the conflict; and the concern of the Kingdom of Morocco about the escalation of tension in the Middle East, warning that ‘the unprecedented situation may expand the conflict and cause unpredictable repercussions in the region’.
It also called for support for the Lebanese people following the attacks suffered in recent days, stressing the importance of countries respecting each other's territorial integrity.
Morocco supports the Plan for the Future
Aziz Akhannouch reaffirmed Morocco's commitment to South-South cooperation based on solidarity and collective action. During his speech at the UN General Assembly, Akhannouch mentioned Morocco's orientation towards the Atlantic, stressing the importance of turning the coastline into a place of people-to-people connection, economic integration and continental exchange.
The Prime Minister spoke about the King of Morocco's initiative to improve access of Sahelian countries to the Atlantic Ocean, believing that this region has the right to participate in the global economy. He said that this new initiative ‘seeks to be a foundation of progress, tranquility and balance in this region of Africa, and that the same spirit of collaboration also motivated the plan to build a gas pipeline from Nigeria to Morocco’.
In this context, it was noted that Morocco has focused its diplomacy on principles of ambition and clarity. Akhannouch continues to push for reform of the global financial architecture to meet the needs of developing countries, calling for greater representation of African countries on the boards of the World Bank and other international banks.
سعدتُ بتجديد اللقاء مع نظيري الإسباني، السيد بيدرو سانشيز بنيويورك على هامش أشغال الدورة الـ79 للجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة، حيث أجرينا اليوم مباحثات مثمرة تطرقنا خلالها إلى سبل تعزيز العلاقات بين الرباط ومدريد.(1/3) pic.twitter.com/mAGdSFmBvJ
— رئيس الحكومة المغربية (@ChefGov_ma) September 24, 2024
During the meeting at the United Nations, the meeting between Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain, and Aziz Akhannouch, who discussed the management of migratory flows and the commitment to orderly and safe migration; and the organisation of the 2030 World Cup, to be hosted by Morocco, Spain and Portugal. In March 2022, Spain considered Morocco's Autonomy Plan as the only serious and credible solution to resolve the Sahrawi dispute.
Through its firm commitment to the resolution of the Western Sahara conflict through the Autonomy Plan for the Sahrawi territory under Moroccan sovereignty, the defence of the Palestinian cause and the promotion and boosting of the economy of the Global South and the importance of Africa, Rabat aspires to consolidate itself as one of the models of solidarity, development and stability on the international scene.
