U.S. think tank identifies Algeria as key to resolving Moroccan Sahara dispute

A new report by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy identifies Algeria as a central player in any potential resolution to the Moroccan Sahara conflict. 

The report describes Morocco’s autonomy initiative as the most viable framework for a lasting and realistic solution and notes that the proposal has gained increasing support from major international powers, including the United States.

The report says that Washington’s consistent support for Morocco’s position reflects a broader shift within the United Nations Security Council. 

It cites what it calls an “unprecedented alignment” behind Morocco’s proposal and states that this dynamic has increased diplomatic pressure on the Polisario Front while placing Algeria in a more pivotal position.

According to the authors, Algeria’s involvement in future negotiations is becoming a diplomatic necessity. They say that the country’s refusal to acknowledge its direct role in the conflict is no longer credible on the international stage and that this stance has undermined its position in diplomatic forums.

The report calls on the United States to continue strengthening its security and economic ties with Algeria but suggests that this engagement should be contingent on Algeria demonstrating openness to “realistic solutions,” specifically Morocco’s autonomy plan.

It also recommends that Algeria play a constructive role in persuading the Polisario Front to rejoin negotiations, using the autonomy proposal as a baseline. 

The report stresses that any such role would require Algeria to be treated as a strategic partner and to be included in regional dialogue with mutual respect.

The authors note that if Algeria remains unwilling to engage, it may face growing diplomatic isolation, while Morocco could continue consolidating international support for its position. 

Conversely, they state that constructive Algerian involvement could lead to enhanced relations with the United States and Europe, particularly in sectors such as energy, security, and sustainable development.

The report concludes that Morocco’s autonomy initiative aligns with UN Security Council resolutions and presents a credible and serious path toward resolving the conflict. 

It states that Algeria now has an opportunity to reorient its position and contribute to regional stability.

Algeria maintains that it is not a direct party to the Moroccan Sahara dispute. It has also opposed the resumption of UN-led roundtable talks, suspended since 2019,  that previously included Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front.