UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has confirmed that his government continues to discuss the Sahara issue with Morocco, stating that the British stance on the conflict remains unchanged from that of the previous government but is under ongoing review.
According to the official website of the UK Parliament, Lammy’s remarks came in response to a question from Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell during a parliamentary session in early April. Mitchell asked whether the UK would adopt a position similar to that of the United States and France in supporting Morocco’s autonomy plan as a solution to the dispute.
According to the same source, Lammy stated: “We continue to have discussions with our Moroccan friends. This is a complex issue. The position remains the position we had under the last government. Of course, we keep that under review as we continue to discuss these issues in the region.”
His statement comes at a time when calls within British political circles are growing for a clearer stance on the Sahara conflict, in line with international trends—particularly after the U.S. recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the region and France increased its support for the autonomy proposal.
It is worth noting that British MP Daniel Kawczynski, a member of the Conservative Party, criticized the UK last year for its delay in recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara. He indirectly pointed fingers at London’s ambassador to Rabat, Simon Martin, accusing him of providing an “unconvincing” justification.
During a parliamentary intervention, Kawczynski stated: “During our recent visit to Morocco, we held a phone discussion with the British ambassador in Rabat, but it was, in my opinion, an unsatisfactory discussion. The ambassador, once again—just as he has done on numerous occasions—attempted to suggest that we cannot recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara because, somehow, this would affect our relations with Britain’s overseas territories.”
Kawczynski explained that the British ambassador in Morocco specifically referenced the Falkland Islands, which are located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Argentina and are a British Overseas Territory. He added that he had asked the ambassador how recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara could impact Britain’s relations with the Falklands but received no response.
In a related development, the UK announced in February the appointment of diplomat Alexander Giles Benfield as its new ambassador to Morocco, replacing the current ambassador, Simon Martin. Benfield is set to assume the role in Rabat starting in August this year.
The official website of the UK government published the formal announcement of Benfield’s appointment, which follows the conclusion of his tenure as head of the Iran Unit at the British Foreign Office at the end of last year.
The appointment of a new UK ambassador to Rabat in August coincides with London’s growing interest in strengthening its relations with Morocco, particularly after Brexit, as the UK seeks to build new partnerships—especially with geographically close countries like Morocco.
