Morocco’s ambassador to Paris, Samira Sitaïl, stated that France's support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara "did not come out of nowhere." She emphasized that this position is the result of discussions between the two countries since last October, aimed at rebuilding their bilateral relations.
Sitaïl was a guest in a joint interview with Europe 1 and Cnews to discuss the contents of President Emmanuel Macron’s letter to King Mohammed VI, in which he announced France’s support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. She mentioned that Morocco "can only be pleased with this significant development, which did not come out of nowhere."
According to the Moroccan diplomat, Macron's message aligns with France's longstanding support for Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara, proposed by Rabat in 2007. The new development, however, is that France now considers this proposal the only basis for resolving the conflict.
Reaching this point, according to Sitaïl, is linked to a long process of efforts to rebuild relations between the two countries, referencing the crisis that has worsened since at least 2021. She added that the French president's letter is the "culmination" of discussions that have lasted several months.
Sitaïl explained that since October 2023, the two countries have put various issues on the table, including those related to building trust. They also discussed reviving their partnership and making it "exceptional," considering that France's current position on the Sahara issue restores matters to their natural state.
Sitaïl also spoke about Algeria’s reaction to Macron’s letter to King Mohammed VI, including its withdrawal of its ambassador and threats of so-called "economic sanctions." She questioned why Algeria remained silent when the United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara in 2020.
On July 30, 2024, the French president announced in a letter to King Mohammed VI that he "considers that the present and future of the Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty," affirming the "consistency of the French position on this issue related to the national security of the kingdom," and that France "intends to act in harmony with this position on both national and international levels."
To this end, Macron emphasized in his letter, which coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Throne Day, that "for France, autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue must be resolved, and our support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 is clear and unwavering." He added that this plan "now constitutes the only basis for reaching a political, just, sustainable, and negotiated solution, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions."
