Morocco's Strategic Diplomatic Triumphs
In a recent discussion, Azzedine Khamrich, the director of the Public Law and Political Science Laboratory at Hassan II University in Casablanca, highlighted the ongoing diplomatic victories that Morocco has achieved concerning its territorial integrity. He attributed these successes not to mere chance but to the strategic plans laid out by King Mohammed VI since he announced the autonomy initiative in 2007. Khamrich recalled the foresight of the late Abderrahmane Youssoufi, who predicted in an interview with the French newspaper 'Le Figaro' that the young monarch understood the significance of the Sahara and would surprise everyone, a forecast that has manifested through Morocco's proposal that effectively undermined Algeria's schemes in the international arena.
Khamrich articulated that the current international positions, including that of the European Union, align with international legitimacy and UN Security Council resolution 2797. He emphasized that Morocco's return to the African Union in 2017 aimed at fostering African citizenry development and establishing peace, in stark contrast to military regimes that thrive on crises and conflict.
Legal Perspectives and Regional Dynamics
From a legal standpoint, Khamrich pointed out that the increasing number of consulates and embassies opening in the cities of Laayoune and Dakhla signifies a formal and explicit recognition of Morocco's full sovereignty over its territory, consistent with international law principles. He noted that Moroccan diplomacy has evolved into a modern, structured approach, moving away from reactive strategies to a more patient and calculated engagement, as evidenced by Morocco's wise and neutral stance during the Gulf crisis.
Moreover, Khamrich dissected the Iranian influence in the region, noting that major powers have confirmed the existence of a ten-year plan by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard aimed at establishing footholds in North Africa with Algerian assistance. He recalled Morocco severing ties with Tehran after providing irrefutable evidence, including videos of interactions between the Polisario Front and Iranian elements within the Iranian embassy in Algeria, which the Iranian Foreign Ministry has failed to deny or refute.
The expert drew attention to the increasing isolation of the Algerian regime, which resorted to inviting the Pope in an apparent attempt to mislead international public opinion and portray Algeria as a land of peace. However, the visit faltered after the Pope openly declared the regime undemocratic, with expectations for an official condemnation from the Vatican concerning the diplomatic breach involving a Polisario member being presented to the Pope.
Statistically, Khamrich presented a stark decline in international support for the separatist entity, with the number of countries recognizing it plummeting from 92 in 1999 to 72 in 2011, and now down to a mere 14 in Africa and two in Latin America. He underscored that the Polisario lacks the fundamental elements of statehood under international law, such as a defined population, territory, and sovereignty, noting that its leaders travel on Algerian passports. This reality was echoed by former African Union Secretary-General Edem Kodjo, who admitted that the inclusion of this entity was the organization's most significant political and diplomatic error.
Khamrich concluded his analysis by outlining the legal pathway for expelling the Polisario from the African Union, which necessitates a two-thirds majority vote from the 54 member states to amend the foundational charter and introduce a clause mandating UN membership for any state seeking admission. He anticipates an imminent surprise within the Union's corridors in light of the growing African awareness of the need to rid the continent of this fictitious entity that has become a source of embarrassment in international fora.
As reported by hespress.com.
