On Saturday, the United States adopted a new official map for Morocco, which includes the disputed Western Sahara region between Rabat and the Polisario Front, while Algeria criticized Washington's decision to recognize Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara region, and said that this decision has no legal effect.

The American ambassador in Rabat, David Fischer, said, during a ceremony announcing the adoption of the map of Morocco, which was held at the American embassy there.

Ambassador Fischer added that the map will be presented to the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, "who, in his wisdom and foresight, recognized Israel," as he put it.

Last Thursday, US President Donald Trump announced his decision to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara region, adding that Rabat had pledged to normalize relations with Israel.

I plan to present this map as a gift to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in appreciation of his bold leadership and his continuous and valuable support for the deep friendship between our two countries.

3/3 pic.twitter.com/B4n3hYhDnH

- US Embassy Morocco (@USEmbMorocco) December 12, 2020

Before adopting the new map, Washington used to adopt a map of Morocco that includes an error mark separating the Sahara region from the rest of the kingdom's territory, indicating that it is a disputed area and is subject to a settlement process within the United Nations, and it is a stumbling path in which no breach of the positions of the parties to the conflict has occurred.

The Algerian position

On the other hand, the Algerian Foreign Ministry said - in a statement yesterday, Saturday - that the US decision to recognize Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara "has no legal effect, because it conflicts with all United Nations resolutions, especially Security Council resolutions on the issue of Western Sahara."

The Algerian Foreign Ministry added that the American declaration would undermine "the de-escalation efforts that have been made at all levels in order to prepare the way for launching a real political path." The ministry renewed the Algerian position, which sees in the Western Sahara conflict "the issue of decolonization, which can only be resolved through the application of international law." .

And before Algeria's position, Russia - a permanent member of the Security Council - last Friday criticized Trump's decision, saying that it was "a unilateral decision that does not respect the UN Security Council resolutions that were approved by the Americans themselves."

Guterres: The solution to the Western Sahara file does not depend on the individual recognition of any state, but rather on the implementation of Security Council resolutions (Al-Jazeera)

The internationalist position

Yesterday, Saturday, the United Nations confirmed that its position on the Western Sahara conflict has not changed, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a press conference, "Our position is very clear with regard to Western Sahara. Everything remains as it was before," adding that finding a solution The Western Sahara file "does not depend on the individual recognition of any state, but rather on the implementation of Security Council resolutions."

The most recent Security Council resolution related to the Sahara region was issued on October 30th, and stipulated the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara - known for short as Minurso - for a year, and urged all parties to work to help the mission find a realistic political solution. To dispute.

The Western Sahara conflict is one of the oldest conflicts in the African continent and the world, and dates back to the year 1975, as Rabat insists that the region is part of its territory, and accepts to grant it autonomy within Moroccan sovereignty, while the Polisario Front - supported by Algeria - insists on holding a referendum to decide the fate of the region. In which its residents have a choice between seceding or joining the Kingdom of Morocco.

The conflict over Western Sahara turned into an armed confrontation between Morocco and the Polisario, which lasted until 1991, and stopped with the signing of a ceasefire agreement that declared the Guerguerat border area a demilitarized zone.

At the end of last November, the Polisario Front announced that it was no longer committed to the ceasefire agreement, following a move by the Moroccan army that ended the closure of the Guerguerat crossing by supporters of the front since last October 21.