French Pres. Support for Morocco's Sovereignty over its Sahara is ‘Clear, Irreversible and a Step in Right Direction’ (French Academic)

31 July 2024 Printable Version

Paris - French President Emmanuel Macron's support for Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara is “clear, irreversible and a step in the right direction”, said Jérôme Besnard, professor of law at the Paris Cité University.

In a message addressed to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the French President officially announced to the Sovereign that he “considers that the present and future of Western Sahara lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty”, the Royal Office said in a statement on Tuesday.

For Besnard, this position by France, which does justice to the Kingdom of Morocco and its Sovereigns “since the current situation is a consequence of the errors of colonial policy with regard to border delimitation (...) will help to bring about a definitive settlement of one of the oldest international conflicts still being debated at the UN”.

He added that France's support would “lay the foundations for enhanced economic and security cooperation between the countries of the European Union and Morocco”.