Canada Recognizes Autonomy Plan as Credible, Serious Basis for Western Sahara

Canada has recognized Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a credible and serious basis to settle the Western Sahara dispute. 

The announcement came during a phone call between Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and Morocco’s top diplomat, Nasser Bourita.

The announcement came amid growing support backing Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the only or the most credible and realistic basis to end the dispute over Western Sahara.

Canada joins a major and global chorus, including the US, whose decision of 2020 to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces has triggered more similar positions.

At least 120 countries now endorse Morocco’s autonomy plan.

Last week, UN personal envoy for the Sahara Staffan de Mistura said ongoing efforts offer a real opportunity to move toward a lasting solution to the dispute.

In a briefing at the UN Security Council, the UN envoy described a “genuine” momentum thanks to recent rounds of consultations with the parties to the dispute in February.

He said the discussions helped clarify key parameters of a political settlement aligned with UN Security Council Resolutions.

De Mistura also recalled the UN’s recognition of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as a serious and credible settlement framework, stating that it responds to longstanding calls from the UN for concrete and realistic steps toward a sustainable, politically negotiated resolution of the Sahara dispute. 

Many other countries have joined the chorus in supporting the autonomy initiative, including the EU bloc, which adopted in January a unified position supporting Morocco’s plan for its southern provinces.

In Africa, many countries have also either announced support for Morocco’s proposal or withdrawn their earlier recognition of the separatist Polisario Front.

Most recently, Mali withdrew its recognition of Polisario’s self-styled SADR and called the autonomy plan as the only credible framework to end the Sahara dispute.

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