"It's a real breath of hope for bilateral relations, but also international confirmation that the Moroccan approach was the only humane solution" to complete the Kingdom's territorial integrity, the international relations expert told MAP.

In a message addressed to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, French President Emmanuel Macron officially announced to the Sovereign that he "considers that the present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty".

Professor Heydt, former chairman of the Council of Europe's North-South Centre, underlined the strength of the content of this message addressed to the Sovereign by the French Head of State.

He explained that stressing that "autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue must be resolved" and that the autonomy plan "is now the only basis for achieving a just, lasting and negotiated political solution", with France's commitment to play "its full part in all the relevant fora", is "a major step forward".

Welcoming "this long-awaited decision", the French international relations expert noted that "France is thus confirming and officially joining the community of nations which, for some years now, has been in favour of the Moroccanness of the Sahara’".

He concluded that "the round table is now large enough to bring together all the assets and parties as quickly as possible in order to finalise the issue of artificial dispute over the Sahara, which has lasted for far too long, to the benefit of the local populations and in the interests of the entire region".