Where is the fault?

What can be observed in the activities organised in France in recent days, in the context of an announced march from France to the Moroccan city of Kenitra, passing through Spain, interspersed with various activities, by a French association loyal to the Polisario Front militias, calling itself 'Friends of the Saharawi Republic', and which operates under the supervision of Algerian military intelligence, is that a significant number of left-wing party activists still clearly support the separatist proposal. 

The question that arises is where is the fault? 

Could it be because the traditional Moroccan parties considered to be left-wing are incapable of establishing relations with the European left in the context of defending the Moroccan Sahara issue? 

Could it be because the Moroccan Parliament, with its various partisan components, has not yet been able to keep up with the broad successes achieved by Moroccan diplomacy in the Western Sahara issue? 

The Royal Address delivered on Friday 11 October 2024 at the opening of the first session of the fourth legislative year of the eleventh legislature, at the seat of Parliament, before the members of both houses of Parliament, emphasised the effective role of party and parliamentary diplomacy in achieving greater international recognition of the Moroccan Sahara. 

The King called on both houses of Parliament to improve coordination and adopt greater efficiency in the selection of delegations. This appeal reflects the Royal interest in training diplomatic staff so that they can represent Morocco effectively and successfully in international forums. 

His Majesty the King has repeatedly praised the patriotic spirit of Moroccans living abroad and their commitment to defending the nation's sacred values and contributing to its development. This is truly evident in the strong involvement of the Moroccan community abroad in defending the national cause, organising protests to denounce and condemn the actions of the French association called 'Friends of the Saharawi Republic', loyal to the Polisario militias, as well as denouncing the involvement of some French local elected representatives in a plot aimed at disrupting Franco-Moroccan relations, especially after France's official and explicit recognition of the Moroccan Sahara. 

Etayyar Mohamed, president of the National Observatory of Strategic Studies. 

Translated from the Arabic by: Abdessamad Benyaich