In a letter sent Tuesday to King Mohammed VI of Morocco, celebrating the 25th anniversary of his reign, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that Rabat’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara is “the only foundation for achieving a just, lasting, and negotiated political resolution.” This message elicited a strong reaction from the Polisario Front, which advocates for independence, and its main supporter, Algeria.
The Algerian foreign ministry announced that its diplomatic representation in France is now managed by a chargé d’affaires, condemning Macron’s statement as an “unprecedented move by any previous French administration.”
Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is predominantly controlled by Morocco but is claimed by the Polisario Front, which declared a “self-defense war” in 2020 and seeks independence for the region. The United Nations, which has maintained a peacekeeping mission in the area since 1991, regards it as a “non-self-governing territory.”
The UN’s goal is to organize a referendum to determine the future of the territory, but Morocco has consistently opposed any vote that includes independence as an option.
In his letter, Macron emphasized the importance of advancing economic and social development in the region. He acknowledged Morocco’s efforts in this area and stated that France would support these initiatives for the benefit of the local population.
The Moroccan royal court praised Macron’s remarks as a “significant step in support of Moroccan sovereignty” over Western Sahara. In response, the Polisario Front criticized the French president, accusing him of endorsing Morocco’s “violent and illegal occupation” of the territory.
Macron’s announcement did little to reduce the tensions between Paris and Algiers, which had seemed to be easing recently. An official visit to France by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, which had already been postponed twice, was planned for the autumn. However, following Macron’s statement, it is now considered unlikely to occur, according to reports from Algeria.
Algeria, which was a French colony for 130 years before gaining independence in 1962 after a brutal eight-year war, has experienced several diplomatic disputes with France in recent years. In February 2023, Algeria withdrew its ambassador from France, accusing it of aiding activist Amira Bouraoui in leaving the country.
Relations between the two nations deteriorated significantly in late 2021 when Macron questioned Algeria’s existence as a nation before French occupation and accused its government of inciting “hatred towards France.” Relations improved after Macron’s visit to Algeria in August 2023, where he and Tebboune signed a joint declaration to renew bilateral cooperation.
The Algerian foreign ministry criticized France for “disregarding international legality and advocating against the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.”
Hasni Abidi, a North Africa specialist at the Centre D’études et de Recherche sur le Monde Arabe et Méditerranéen, described Macron’s statement as reflecting “a historic shift” in France’s stance on the issue. He suggested that this change resulted from pressure from the French right, which believes that “Paris will never gain favor with Algiers and risks losing its key ally, Rabat.”
In February, French Foreign Minister Stéphane Sejourne affirmed during a visit to Morocco that the kingdom could rely on France’s “clear and constant support.”
On Tuesday, Algeria labeled France and Morocco as “colonial powers” and warned of “consequences” stemming from France’s decision. Algeria severed diplomatic relations with Morocco in August 2021. In 2020, former US President Donald Trump acknowledged Morocco’s annexation of Western Sahara in exchange for Rabat normalizing relations with Israel.