Morocco remains ready to resume its relations with Spain, provided that the latter clearly expresses its support for the kingdom on the question of the Sahara.
There will be no full normalization of relations without Spain’s clear recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara. This is at least the message passed on Wednesday by the Moroccan Prime Minister, Aziz Akhannouch, in a television interview given to the Al Oula and M2 channels on the occasion of his first 100 days at the head of the Executive. On Thursday, government spokesman Mustafa Baitas spoke of Spain’s demand for “a lot of clarity” on this crucial issue for Morocco.
King Mohammed VI declared on November 6, on the occasion of the 46ᵉ anniversary of the Green March, that Morocco is “now entitled to expect from [its] partners bolder and clearer positions on the question of territorial integrity of the Kingdom”, recalled the Head of the Executive and the spokesman of the government, specifying that the Moroccan monarch was thus warning his partners that there would be no commercial relations without recognition of Moroccan sovereignty. on the Sahara.
Morocco, therefore, continues to wait for this “gesture” from Spain, before any resumption of relations, reports La Razón, recalling that these remarks by the Moroccan authorities come just a few days after the will clearly be expressed by the King of Spain, Felipe VI, to “begin a new bilateral relationship” and “to move forward together” with Morocco on “stronger and more solid” bases.
For his part, King Mohammed VI had also expressed last August, in his speech on the occasion of the Throne Day, his desire “to inaugurate a new unprecedented stage” in relations with Spain, based on ” trust, transparency, mutual respect, and commitments”. According to Samir Bennis, diplomatic adviser and expert in bilateral relations, “we are witnessing a new paradigm in bilateral relations; Morocco is more and more sure of itself, it wants Spain to respect it and reconsider its position on the Sahara”.
