British Labour Party reconsiders stance on Moroccan Sahara as support for autonomy plan solidifies

The British Labour Party is re-evaluating its position on the Moroccan Sahara, signaling a potential shift in how left-wing parties address the conflict.

In a recent parliamentary statement, David Lammy, the Labour Party’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, indicated that the party does not view commercial activities in the Moroccan Sahara as unlawful, provided they benefit the Sahrawi people. This remark suggests a significant shift in the party’s stance on self-determination, a principle historically associated with support for state fragmentation.

Lammy’s emphasis on the “interests of the Sahrawi people” marks a departure from traditional leftist views that have supported secessionist movements. Analysts interpret this as a realignment in the party’s approach, reflecting a more nuanced understanding of self-determination.

Ali Boutouala, Deputy Secretary-General of the Federation of the Democratic Left, told Hespress Ar that the Labour Party’s position mirrors the perspective of the Moroccan left. This group advocates for a broader interpretation of self-determination that extends beyond secessionist agendas. Boutouala suggested that while the Labour Party’s primary focus is on UK interests, its stance indirectly supports Morocco by addressing misconceptions about self-determination.

Boutouala also praised Morocco’s autonomy proposal as the most advanced and democratic solution for the Sahrawi people.

Abdelfattah El Fatihi, head of the Sahara and Africa Center for Strategic Studies, noted that the Labour Party appears to recognize the impracticality of the self-determination concept supported by some other political groups. El Fatihi recalled that although Morocco was open to a referendum on the Sahara’s future in the 1990s, such a vote now seems unfeasible.

El Fatihi predicts that the UK might soon adopt a stance similar to France’s in supporting Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.