Sahara Autonomous Region

The Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal is an initiative proposed by Morocco since 2007 to establish a Sahara Autonomous Region as a possible solution to the Western Sahara conflict. In 2006, the Moroccan Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS) proposed a plan for the autonomy of Western Sahara and made visits to a number of countries to explain the proposal. The Spanish approach to regional autonomy has been named as a possible model for Western Saharan autonomy, mentioning specifically the cases of the Canary Islands, the Basque Country, Andalusia, or Catalonia. The plan was presented to the UN Security Council in April 2007 and received the backing of the United States and France. This initiative constituted the main ground for the Moroccan proposal at the Manhasset negotiations.

The proposal was following the two failed proposals of the Baker Plan, which insisted on an independence referendum for Western Sahara after five years of autonomy; the plan was rejected by Morocco. A proposal was also published by Polisario to the UN on 10 April 2007, a day before the Moroccan proposal. The UN Security Council unanimously voted for Resolution 1754 on 30 April 2007 calling for talks of both parties, appreciating the proposal of Morocco and taking note of Polisario's proposal. Based on the proposal, there were four UN-sponsored peace talks between delegations of Polisario and Morocco on 18–19 June 2007, 10–11 August 2007, 7–9 January 2008, and 18–19 March 2008, all of which were held in Manhasset, New York. Though they ended without a breakthrough.

After years of diplomatic inaction, a new international effort emerged in 2024. A UN envoy has proposed dividing the disputed territory between Morocco and the Pro-Independent Western Sahara, though the Polisario said the plan fails to "enshrine" the Sahrawi people's right for self-determination

History

Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1975. A war erupted between those countries and the Sahrawi national liberation movement, the Polisario Front, which proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) with a government in exile in Tindouf, Algeria. Mauritania withdrew in 1979, and Morocco eventually secured control of most of the territory, including all the major cities and natural resources. Polisario was formed in 1973 to fight for the rights of the Sahrawi people. Polisario attacked Moroccan positions many times and have retaliated. Continued war was waged between Polisario and Morocco over prominence in the region, with Polisario being backed by Algeria and Morocco being backed by the United States, France, and Saudi Arabia.

Interim wars

Morocco started building a massive wall to reduce the attacks and military activity. During November to December 1987, a United Nations peace mission arrived to assess the military and political impact of the wall. They sought a face-to-face meeting with Polisario and Morocco to arrive at a ceasefire and initiate proceedings for a referendum. They had different meetings with Morocco, Algeria and Polisario and proposed a resolution which was passed unopposed. During the time, Algeria, which had been a long-time ally of Polisario, held secret meetings with Morocco at the foreign ministry level. By May 1988, both countries announced that diplomatic relations between the countries would be restored. During July 1988, Moroccan King Hassan expressed his support for a referendum, but declined to name Western Sahara an independent state, but a special administrative region. He also denied meeting with Polisario. In spite of the UN's continued effort, the denial introduced criticism of Morocco's positions by Polisario. King Hassan agreed to meet representatives from SADR. During 1989, Algeria claimed that it would continue to support SADR amidst growing concern of Algeria breaking links with SADR. King Hassan's elongated delay frustrated SADR and they started an attack. During the first week of October 1989, Polisario started attacks on Moroccan positions in Guelta-Zemmour, which forced Moroccan troops 25 kilometers inside the defensive wall. The group also claimed that they secured the 1st Light Security Group of the 4th and 5th Rapid Intervention Force of Morocco. They also attacked Moroccan positions in the North towards Hauza on October 11. Following the attacks King Hassan called off the second meeting with SADR representatives.

Baker Plan

The fighting continued till 1 September 1991 when a UN mission brokered peace a ceasefire in the region. There have been various proposals by both the parties in the United Nations. James Baker, an American diplomat in the region worked out a couple of settlement plans, called Baker Plan after 1997. In the first plan, he proposed autonomy to the region with foreign affairs and defense managed by Morocco. The plan was rejected by Polisario, indicating that any proposal without independence could not be accepted. They also argued that the count of natives should be based on the census of 1975 and not based on migrants from Morocco in the interim period. The second proposal called for a referendum after five years of autonomy. The plan was accepted by Morocco initially, but later rejected quoting that any plan with proposal of independence could not be accepted. The plan was rejected by Morocco and Baker left the position in 2004.

Proposal

Moroccan-backed advisory council on Western Sahara (CORCAS) submitted a proposal to the United Nations in April 2006 that would grant autonomy to the people of Western Sahara. As per the plan, the Sahawaris would run their government under Moroccan sovereignty. It also indicated that Morocco will control defense and foreign affairs.

The Moroccan authorities indicated that the failure of the proposal would increase Islamic fundamental ideas and terrorism in the region around the Sahel. Hamid Chabar, the Moroccan representative of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara quoted that "There are a lot of young people in the Sahel who are leaning towards radical Islam, with groups such as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat gaining ground". The claims were denied by Polisario which stated that it never supported terrorism.

The autonomy proposal was rejected by the front in February 2004 soon as it was proposed, while Morocco sought the backing of the United States to take it forward. A proposal was also published by Polisario to the UN on 10 April 2007, a day before the Moroccan proposal. The UN Security unanimously voted for Resolution 1754 on 30 April 2007, calling for talks of both parties, appreciating the proposal of Morocco and taking note of Polisario's proposal. Based on the proposal, there were four UN-sponsored peace talks between the delegation of Polisario and Morocco 18–19 June 2007, 10–11 August 2007, 7–9 January 2008, and 7–9 January 2008, all of which were held in New York City.

In a 2007 letter to President George W. Bush, 173 members of the US Congress endorsed the plan. In a letter to President Obama in 2009, 233 US congressmen endorsed the plan. In 2010, a letter to Secretary of State Clinton backing the Moroccan plan for autonomy, was signed by 54 Senators.

On 19 March 2022, the Spanish and Moroccan press suggested the president of the Spanish Government had provisionally accepted this proposal, although parliamentary ratification was not assured.

Proposed Sahara Autonomous Region

Morocco has proposed autonomy for Western Sahara through the establishment of a Sahara Autonomous Region.

The "Moroccan Initiative for Negotiating an Autonomy Statute for the Sahara Region" defines the division of powers between the Government of Morocco and the Sahara Autonomous Region and contains provisions to establish legislative and executive organs for the region.https://www.iipvienna.com/new-blog/2021/3/23/dispute-settlement-through-territorial-autonomy-moroccan-autonomy-initiative-for-the-sahara-region-and-practical-lessons-learned-from-the-successful-autonomy-system-of-south-tyrol

Competencies

;The Government of Morocco would retain the following competencies:
*national security, defence and territorial integrity;
*foreign relations;
*the judiciary;
*religious rights and freedoms;
*currency;
*national symbols including the flag and national anthem.

;The Sahara Autonomous Region would have competency over:
*the local police force and jurisdictions;
*the regional budget and taxation;
*economic policy including economic development, regional planning, investment, trade, industry, tourism and agriculture;
*social policy including housing, education, health, employment, sports, social welfare and social security;
*infrastructure including water, hydraulic facilities, electricity, public works and transportation;
*cultural affairs;
*the environment
*cooperation with foreign regional governments.

Institutions

The Parliament of the Sahara Autonomous Region would include directly elected members and appointed members representing Saharawi tribes.

The Regional Cabinet would be led by the Head of Government of the Sahara Autonomous Region, appointed by the King of Morocco on the advice of the regional Parliament.

International support

See also

*Autonomous administrative division
*Baker Plan
*Western Sahara

References

External links

UN secretary general's special envoy on autonomy for Western Sahara

Moroccan initiative for negotiating an autonomy statute for the Sahara region

{{Mohammed VI , state=collapsed

2006 in international relations
2007 in international relations
Foreign relations of Morocco
Politics of Western Sahara
Western Sahara peace process
Morocco and the United Nations
Proposed autonomous regions