Foreign Policy Council: Morocco ensures its sovereignty “not by isolating the Sahara but by using it as a lever for integration”

Reacting to the Sovereign’s speech at the opening of the fall session of Parliament on Friday, the American expert in international relations affirmed that the Sahara issue lives at the rhythm of a “irreversible dynamic of change» which is reflected both by the international support for the legitimate rights of Morocco and the relevance of the autonomy initiative as a unique solution to this regional conflict, but also through the all-out development experienced by the southern provinces which stand out today as a catalyst for stability and prosperity in the Sahel region and Atlantic Africa.

«It must be recognized that Morocco has strengthened its sovereignty over the Sahara, not by isolating it, but by integrating it into a series of initiatives.» which the King launched such as that aimed at giving the Sahel countries access to the Atlantic and the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project which crosses 13 countries in Atlantic Africa, Berman said in a statement to MAP.

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Through the major development projects in its southern provinces, Morocco has shown “to the world a vision of an integrated Sahara which has gone beyond the conflict and which serves as a solution to regional challenges» in North Africa, the Sahel and beyond, added this expert on the region. For Ilan Berman, Western countries, like the United States, France or Spain, just like all nations around the world, are looking for partners “reliable and trustworthy».

«It is clear that Morocco, which is asserting itself regionally, is indeed on this list. Its role is also strategic for European countries and for the United States.“, he said, believing that this “constructive role» is all the more necessary today given the multiple crises in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.