Morocco’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Nasser Bourita stated on Monday that the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco to resolve the Sahara conflict is “a point of arrival and not a point of departure,” adding that the country “does not negotiate its territorial sovereignty,” during a press briefing after he met with his Estonian counterpart, Margus Tsahkna.
The minister affirmed that Morocco’s autonomy proposal includes “red lines that must not be crossed,” and that any discussion about particulars would only be appropriate once other parties have committed to the autonomy plan as the basis for negotiations.” He added, “At this stage, it is premature to discuss these matters.”
The autonomy plan has garnered increasing international support, with leading countries such as the United States, France, and Spain recognizing Morocco’s territorial sovereignty.
The statement followed a closed-door briefing by de Mistura to the United Nations Security Council, during which he stated it was time for Morocco to elaborate on its autonomy plan.
During his intervention, de Mistura floated the idea of a controversial partition of the Sahara, suggesting the region could be divided into a northern territory under Moroccan sovereignty and a southern, independent state.
Bourita confirmed that Mistura had previously raised the idea of partition during his visit to Rabat in April and that Morocco’s position was clear and firm with the proposal being rejected.
“Morocco will not negotiate its sovereignty over the Sahara or its territorial integrity,” Bourita declared, framing the conflict as a regional dispute with an opposing neighbor, rather than a question of Morocco’s sovereignty.
The minister also asserted that the idea of partition is not a new concept, describing it as an “outdated idea” that was first proposed over two decades ago by former UN envoy James Baker.