France is preparing to announce its support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara by officially recognizing the autonomy plan for the region under the full sovereignty of the Kingdom, according to a statement from Algeria's Foreign Ministry expressing outrage.
Algeria's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that it "expresses its disapproval of the French government's decision" to recognize the autonomy plan for Sahara within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.
The statement added that "Algeria affirms that it will draw all the necessary conclusions and consequences from this decision and holds the French government solely and fully responsible."
Algeria claimed the anticipated French decision was "the result of dubious political calculations, unethical assumptions, and legal interpretations not based on sound foundations that support or justify it."
In this context, Algeria argued that the French move did not help create conditions conducive to a peaceful resolution of the issue. "On the contrary, it directly contributes to exacerbating the deadlock and stagnation caused by the Moroccan autonomy plan for more than seventeen years."
Algeria accused France of "distorting and misrepresenting facts by supporting" what it described as a "colonial reality" and the "alleged and imaginary sovereignty of Morocco" over the Sahara region.
Observers noted that Algeria's statement is a preemptive step ahead of an expected official announcement from Paris supporting Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, which could lead to a severe diplomatic crisis between Paris and Algiers.
