Amid anticipation of backing Morocco's sovereignty over Sahara, UK reiterates alignment with UN

The British Foreign Office stated that “successive British governments have considered the status of Sahara to be undetermined” in response to two parliamentary questions about the advantages of recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces and the obstacles preventing London from taking such a step.

The statement also highlighted Britain’s support for the United Nations-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution.

In responses reviewed by Hespress Ar from the official UK Parliament website, the Foreign Office noted that “the government supports the relevant UN efforts, particularly those of Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sahara.”

The Foreign Office also confirmed that “British officials regularly discuss the Sahara issue with international partners, including the UN, Morocco, and Algeria; and continue to encourage constructive engagement in the political process.”

In recent years, calls have increased within the British House of Commons for the London government to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and back the autonomy plan, following the example set by the U.S.

While some experts argue that the British stance, though not explicitly supportive of Morocco, does not oppose its interests, they expect London might adopt a more favorable position in the future given the evolving political landscape in North Africa.

In this regard, Abdel Fattah Belaamchi, Professor of International Relations at Cadi Ayyad University and President of the Moroccan Center for Parallel Diplomacy and Inter-Civilizational Dialogue, noted that “the issue of Moroccan Sahara is a topic of continuous discussion in Britain, involving both the government and Parliament, as well as diplomatically through the UN Security Council, where Britain holds a permanent seat.”

Belaamchi added that “the British political elite’s stance has been gradually shifting towards recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, particularly after Brexit and the recent growth in bilateral economic relations between the two countries. While a clear official decision on the Sahara issue has yet to be made, current signs suggest that Britain may adopt a more favorable position in the near future.”

The expert pointed out that “the UK’s stance on the Sahara issue doesn’t go against its national interests, but it still hasn’t reached the level of support seen from other countries like the United States, Spain, and France.”

He highlighted the importance of examining recent Security Council session records, which reveal a clear shift in the British position and a new diplomatic tone that mirrors the evolving relationship between the two nations.

Belaamchi concluded that “economic interests in Africa, along with disruptions in global trade, may have led Britain to take longer to assess its position on the Sahara issue before making a final decision.”

Political analyst Said Barkanan noted that “Britain’s approach to complex international issues often involves balancing the positions of major political parties with the country’s strategic interests. This means considering the broader strategic vision that impacts British security and economic sovereignty both at home and abroad.”

He told Hespress AR that “the response from the British government, led by the Labour Party, can be seen in principle as a support to Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, reflecting support for international legitimacy under the UN’s framework.”

This is further confirmed by a previous legal ruling in Britain, which dismissed objections from groups supporting the Polisario Front that sought to prevent Britain from signing economic agreements with Morocco that included products from the Sahara.

The expert added that “this response is just a political stance while waiting for a more detailed strategy based on the evolving regional security situation and the emerging political landscape in neighboring countries, particularly Mauritania and Algeria.”

He also pointed out that “the real British endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy and sovereignty over the Sahara comes from the British court’s earlier ruling in Morocco’s favor, as well as the British government’s economic victory, which acknowledged that economic activities in the region are legal as long as they respect the interests of the local population.”