Sahara Today, Laâyoune (2024)

25/12/2022

- US President signed on Friday the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act into law, benefiting Morocco as it presents several opportunities - including climate spending and arms sales.

On Friday, the White House announced the signing of the defense authorization act into law, but reiterated Biden’s concerns about provisions that raise “constitutional concerns or questions of construction.”

One of the provisions that raised concerns for the White House is Section 1209 of the National Defense Authorization Act ( ), which aims to put pressure on Biden’s administration and Morocco by halting bilateral military cooperation.

The pressure came from a group of senators, particularly the now-retired James Inhofe, who has been calling to halt spending on military exercises with Morocco to force Rabat to negotiate its territorial integrity and sovereignty over Western Sahara.

In response, the US President said that while he is “pleased” to support “critical objectives” cited in the defense authorization act, he noted that “certain provisions of the act raise concerns.”

“A number of provisions of the Act (e.g., sections 1209(c), 1236(a), 1237, 1240, 1276(d), 1640(d), 5510(c), 5593(e), 6316, and 6402) would effectively require the President and other executive branch officials to submit reports and plans to certain congressional committees that will, in the ordinary course, include highly sensitive classified information, including information that could reveal critical intelligence sources or military operational plans,” Biden stressed.

He stressed that the US constitution urges both the President and US authorities to “prevent the disclosure” of sensitive information to protect national security.

“I believe the Congress shares this understanding and my administration will presume it is incorporated into statutory reporting requirements of the kind at issue in the Act,” Biden stressed.

This is not the first time that the US administration countered similar hostile attempts against Morocco-US military cooperation.

In November, Biden’s administration expressed the same concerns about Section 1209, stressing that the situation also requires analysis or reporting on a “significant foreign policy issue without including sufficient means for the secretary of State to provide reports and ensure that foreign assistance is carried out in a manner consistent with foreign policy priorities.”

Inhofe, in addition to several other senators, have been attempting to convince ’s administration to reverse the US recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over .

Inhofe, one of the most vocal pro-Polisario voices in Washington, has recently requested the search for alternative sites to host the African Lion military exercise instead of .

However, the US confirmed recently that the military drills will take place in Morocco next year in June.

“The annual exercise provides unmatched opportunities for participation and cooperation on the African continent. While Morocco anchors the exercise, the other nations, known as spokes, continue to increase their size and contribution to the overall exercise,” US Army Southern European Task Force in Africa said in October.

Morocco has been the host of the largest military exercise in Africa for 18 years.

08/11/2022

Every year, proudly commemorates November 6, 1975, when 350,000 Moroccan civilians marched into the Sahara desert to protest Spain’s occupation of the Western Sahara region.

The Green March has left a lasting impact on contemporary Morocco, where its legacy reflects a patriotic and peaceful people.

Remembering the large-scale act of solidarity in 1975 is a celebration of the Moroccan people’s commitment to an independent and strong Morocco.

November 6, 2021, marks the 46th anniversary of Morocco’s historic .

01/03/2021

Total number of vaccination doses administered.
: 3.568.670 ( 01/03/2021)

21/01/2021

- The US recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara is part of a logic aimed at solving a conflict that threatens regional stability and blocks partnership with Europe, said Morocco's ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, Mohamed Ameur.

In an Op-ed published by Belgian weekly "Knack", the Moroccan diplomat explained that the decision of the United States of America and its support for the Moroccan autonomy proposal is part of a logic aimed at seeking solutions and breaking with a status quo that keeps tension in a region that is already facing multiple threats.

The diplomat recalled the genesis of this artificial conflict, including the role of Algeria, and highlighted the peace efforts made by Morocco.

Resolving this conflict on a realistic, fair and compromise basis is now the only prospect for building a united Maghreb. The Moroccan initiative for autonomy is a fair prospect that can put an end to a conflict that has lasted too long, Ameur said.

"In the world we live in today, a conflict of any kind should be resolved through negotiation and compromise," he added.

Referring to the peaceful intervention of the Royal Armed Forces in the El Guerguarat crossing at the border with Mauritania, the diplomat wrote that the polisario, supported by Algeria, declared the end of the ceasefire and, since then, it does not stop spreading propaganda on social networks of an imaginary war that neither the United Nations nor the international community has witnessed.

"Intransigence and extremist positions benefit only the conflict instigators and warmongers," Ameur concluded.

28/12/2020

: Malian Organizations Welcome Huge Success of Moroccan Diplomacy

Bamako - Malian organizations and associations lauded, on Sunday in a joint statement, the efforts made by Morocco to establish peace in the Maghreb and the Middle East, welcoming the huge success of Moroccan diplomacy, particularly in the Sahara issue.
"Thanks to these historic decisions", with particular reference to the American recognition of the Moroccanness of the Sahara, "Morocco has taken a great step with courage and determination which constitutes a huge success of the wise and pragmatic diplomacy of Morocco under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI ", read the statement, signed by the Federal Council of Adepts of the Tarîqa Tidjaniya in Mali, the Malian Association of Mali-Morocco Friendship, the Council of Qadiriya in Mali and the Malian Organization of Graduates from the Mohammed VI Institute for Imams Training.

These organizations said they have followed with great interest the recent developments in Morocco which have led to important and courageous decisions, in particular the US recognition of the full sovereignty of Morocco over its Sahara, the opening of an American consulate in Dakhla in order to encourage investment, the reaffirmation of Morocco's unwavering position on the Palestinian question based on the two-state solution and the resumption of cooperation mechanisms with Israel.

The presidents and members of the said organizations extended their warm congratulations to HM King Mohammed VI and to the brotherly Moroccan people for their tireless efforts which led to all these promising decisions for economic development in the region, understanding and peace between the sons of Abraham and more generally to a new era of prosperity in the Maghreb and the Middle East, noting that Morocco has a leading role to play in this context.

They encouraged and welcomed these initiatives which call for the values of tolerance, dialogue, peace, and cooperation between peoples and states.

By: Maghreb Arabe Press 🇲🇦 🇲🇱

27/12/2020

Polisario-Algeria Fabricate Propaganda Footage to Fuel War Narrative

Sahrawi NGO Forsatin has exposed the collaboration between and the Polisario Front to fabricate war footage.

The NGO, created to defend the human rights of refugees in the Polisario-controlled camps of Tindouf in southwestern Algeria, shared several photos showing Algerian journalists and Polisario members standing in what seems like a movie set in the Algerian desert.

The photos show the cameramen recording footage of abandoned buildings, under the instructions of Polisario militias.

27/12/2020

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27/12/2020

- US secretary of state Mike Pompeo announced the beginning of the process to open a US consulate in , with the immediate inauguration of a virtual presence post.

"Consistent with President 's proclamation on recognizing the sovereignty of the Kingdom of over the , the State Department announces that it has begun the process to establish a U.S. consulate in the region," said in a statement.

"Effective immediately, we are inaugurating a virtual presence post," said the US top official, noting that this post, which will focus on promoting economic and social development, will be followed soon by a fully functioning consulate.

This virtual presence post will be managed by the U.S. Embassy in Rabat, he noted.

Pompeo said that "the United States looks forward to this increased engagement and we will continue to support political negotiations to resolve the issues between Morocco and the polisario within the framework of Morocco’s autonomy plan."

The decision to open a US consulate in Dakhla was announced on December 10 after a telephone conversation between HM King Mohammed VI and US President .

On this occasion, the American president announced the historic decision of the United States to recognize the full sovereignty of the Kingdom over its Sahara

27/12/2020

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13/12/2020

- The sheikhs of the Sahrawi tribes in the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region on Friday welcomed the decision of the United States to recognize the full and entire sovereignty of Morocco over all of its Sahara.

Gathered in Laâyoune, the sheikhs underlined in a press release that this decision, which consolidates the Moroccanness of the Sahara, is the result of the personal involvement of HM King Mohammed VI through his permanent and direct contacts with officials from the US administration, adding that this historic event marks a turning point in the evolution of the Kingdom's territorial integrity issue.

They also paid tribute to the wisdom of the decisions taken by HM the King and to the Sovereign's insightful vision aimed at establishing peace in the region and sparing it the risks of wars and divisions through the serious, credible and realistic proposal of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, specifying that the sheikhs of the Sahrawi tribes consider this Moroccan initiative, like the Security Council, the American administration and several other large countries, as the only basis for a just and permanent solution for the achievement of peace and prosperity in the region.

The press release also denounced any attack on the territorial integrity of the Kingdom as well as all the provocations of Morocco's adversaries aimed at destabilizing the region, threatening its peace and stability and hampering the Kingdom's economic cooperation with its African neighbours.

The sheikhs of the Sahrawi tribes reaffirmed their constant support for all the wise decisions of HM the King and His insightful initiatives aimed at achieving peace, security, prosperity and development of the region in the service of the interests of the population of the Sahara and of the whole Moroccan people from Tangier to Lagouira.

13/12/2020

"I am delighted to present the map of the Kingdom of Morocco officially adopted by the US government," said Fischer during a press briefing held following the historic United States' decision to recognize the full sovereignty of Morocco over its Sahara.

This map is the "tangible representation" of the courageous proclamation made by President Donald Trump two days ago, which recognizes Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara, he said.

He also underlined that he intends to offer this map as a present to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in recognition of the "bold" leadership of the Sovereign and His continuous and precious support for the deep friendship between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Morocco.

The US ambassador subsequently signed the full map of Morocco that the US government officially adopted.

The historic decision of the United States to recognize the full sovereignty of Morocco over its Sahara was announced Thursday during a telephone call between HM King Mohammed VI and the American President Donald Trump.

As the first result of this sovereign initiative of great importance, the United States decided to open a consulate in Dakhla, with an essentially economic vocation, in order to encourage American investments and to contribute to economic and social development, for the benefit notably of the inhabitants of the southern provinces.