Tag Western Sahara

The return of Donald Trump to the White House has ignited a wave of optimism in Morocco, because the nation seeks to solidify its diplomatic beneficial properties concerning the Moroccan Sahara dispute, in keeping with a report by Le Monde. 

Trump’s resolution in 2020 to acknowledge Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara was seen as a diplomatic breakthrough for Morocco. 

While the Biden administration has maintained this recognition, it has been extra cautious in taking additional steps, similar to opening a U.S. consulate within the disputed territory. 

Moroccan officers are hopeful {that a} second Trump presidency will result in the success of this pledge.

Morocco is leveraging what is named ‘consulate diplomacy’ to strengthen its legitimacy within the area, Le Monde reported. 

Since King Mohammed VI ascended to the throne in 1999, Moroccan diplomacy has labored to undermine the place of the Polisario, which is supported by Algeria and claims Moroccan Sahara as an “independent state.”

Recent diplomatic successes, similar to Ghana’s resolution to droop its ties with the Polisario, have bolstered Morocco’s confidence. 

Morocco views this as a breakthrough, given Ghana’s influential place inside the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Le Monde says that Morocco’s main aim is to expel the Polisario from the African Union. The newspaper quoted King Mohammed VI, who stated that each one nationwide establishments, together with political events and civil society, should work to persuade the world of the Moroccanness of the Sahara.

Le Monde stated that whereas the Polisario Front makes use of NGOs to unfold its messages, Rabat has been increasing its actions into new areas.

The report highlighted that rising competitors with Algeria and the challenges posed by inside crises in some African nations, like Mali and Mauritania, make Morocco’s efforts extra sophisticated. 

The President of the Andalusian authorities, Juan Manuel Moreno, introduced on Wednesday in Spain plans to ascertain Europe’s first zero-emissions maritime inexperienced hall between Tarifa, Spain, and Tangier, through the FITUR 2025 International Tourism Fair,  in keeping with Spanish media.

The mission goals to attach the 2 cities through a ferry route powered by two state-of-the-art, 100% electrical quick ferries, alongside the electrification of each ports.

Highlighting the importance of this initiative, Moreno acknowledged, “thanks to the advanced technology and significant investment from Baleària and the involved ports, this green corridor will set a benchmark for sustainability in tourism and transportation.”

Moreno revealed that the 2 ferries might be named España 2030 and Marruecos 2030, symbolizing the Agenda 2030 targets and the FIFA World Cup that Spain and Morocco will co-host that yr.

“This reinforces the historical connection and collaboration between the two sides of the Strait,” mentioned the President of the Andalusian authorities, emphasizing the symbolic significance of the names.

The Spanish media talked about that “the ferry operator Baleària is planned to spearhead the project with a total investment of €160 million over the next 15 years.”

Of this quantity, in keeping with the identical supply, €135 million might be allotted to the development of electrical ferries, port electrification, and battery charging methods.

It defined that “each ferry will have the capacity to carry 804 passengers and 225 vehicles, with operations expected to begin in 2027—approximately two and a half years after the official concession.”

The Spanish media unveiled that “Baleària will take control of Berth 3 at the Port of Tarifa, replacing the previous operator FRS-DFDS. This transition marks the start of a more sustainable approach to managing the route, aligning with the corridor’s objectives.”

For context, this route, which serves as a significant hyperlink between Andalusia and northern Morocco, is seen as an financial and political asset. It is particularly essential for the Marhaba operation, a seasonal inflow of Moroccans from overseas, and for a whole bunch of 1000’s of passengers touring yearly, notably through the summer season and non secular holidays.

The Dutch authorities deported solely 50 Moroccan nationals within the second half of 2024, a lower in comparison with the 120 compelled departures recorded within the first half of the 12 months, in line with local media outlets citing figures from the Repatriation and Departure Service (DTenV).

It talked about that the decline might be on account of quite a lot of elements, quoting a spokesperson for the Minister of Asylum and Migration, Marjolein Faber.

These elements might embody “staff availability, the availability of detention facilities, and whether the individual is definitively deportable or has started a new procedure that must be completed in the Netherlands,” in line with the identical supply.

The native media added that “the previous government had improved relations and cooperation with Morocco, leading to more deportations of Moroccan nationals in 2023 after a period when deportations to Morocco were rare.”

It added that up till June 2024, below the earlier authorities, 440 deportations had been carried out, and following the inauguration of the brand new authorities coalition of PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB on July 2, solely 360 overseas nationals had been forcibly returned within the second half of the 12 months.

Revijara Oosterhuis, coordinator on the Detention Reporting Center for the National Support Organization for Undocumented Migrants, had beforehand indicated that “Morocco might be unhappy with the new government.”

However, the Minister of Asylum and Migration’s spokesperson emphasised that “cooperation on returns with Moroccan authorities remained consistently strong in the second half of 2024.”

The similar supply talked about that the second half of 2024, nevertheless, noticed a big rise in deportations of Algerians, with 90 deportations in comparison with simply 30 within the first half of the 12 months.

The minister’s spokesperson mentioned that “this increase is attributed to good cooperation with Algeria.”

The native media criticized that within the second half of 2024, there was a lower in deportations of non-EU nationals to their international locations of origin in comparison with the primary six months of the 12 months, with the decline amounting to almost 20%.

Hespress ENWednesday 22 January 2025 – 14:32

Morocco’s dedication to Africa continues to be a cornerstone of its overseas coverage, in response to the 2025 strategic report by the Rabat Center for Political and Strategic Studies. 

The report, titled “Morocco’s Policy in Africa,” highlights the nation’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its ties throughout the continent.

Khalid Cherkaoui Semmouni, Director of the Rabat Center, saif in his opening remarks that Africa holds a particular place in Morocco’s diplomatic technique. 

He identified that this imaginative and prescient has been firmly strengthened underneath the management of King Mohammed VI, who has prioritized constructing sturdy partnerships and fostering regional improvement.

Semmouni described Morocco’s return to the African Union as a pivotal second. 

He known as it “a bold and visionary decision by King Mohammed VI,” which not solely restored Morocco’s pure place in its African household but in addition corrected the method of the previous, when Morocco adopted a “policy of the empty chair.” 

Since then, the nation has injected contemporary vitality into the African Union, selling solidarity and collaboration with different member states.

The report additionally highlights Morocco’s energetic position in selling safety and sustainable improvement throughout the continent.

Drawing on its intensive, Morocco has labored to fight violent extremism, share experience in non secular affairs, and help financial and safety cooperation. 

Morocco’s affect has been each sensible and far-reaching whether or not via peacekeeping missions, contributions to the African Peace and Security Council, or partnerships with the G5 Sahel nations.

Semmouni additional famous Morocco’s achievements in migration coverage, describing its method as humane and unified. 

With initiatives to guard migrants’ rights and uphold their dignity, Morocco has turn out to be a regional chief in addressing migration challenges.

The opening of a number of African consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla over the previous two years present rising help for Morocco’s territorial integrity. 

According to Semmouni, this diplomatic success carries important political weight, reinforcing the optimistic momentum round Morocco’s sovereignty.