Western Sahara: the United States opens a "virtual" diplomatic mission
Jared Kushner, during his visit to Rabat accompanied by an official Israeli delegation on December 22.
The son-in-law, and special adviser, of President Trump is the architect of the rapprochement between Israel and Morocco and of the recognition - in return - by the United States of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
via REUTERS - US EMBASSY IN MOROCCO
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The United States announced on Thursday the opening of a “virtual” diplomatic mission in Western Sahara.
In early December, Donald Trump announced that the United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty over this disputed territory.
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In return for the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel, Donald Trump announced on December 10, to everyone's surprise, the recognition of the “Moroccanness” of this desert region, claimed by the separatists of the Polisario Front supported by Algeria.
"I am pleased to announce the start of the process to establish a US consulate in Western Sahara," US Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo tweeted Thursday.
“In the immediate future, we are inaugurating a virtual diplomatic mission”.
A consulate that “will operate at full capacity” will follow, the US Secretary of State said in a statement, without specifying a timetable.
Pleased to announce the beginning of the process to establish a US consulate in Western Sahara, and the inauguration of a virtual presence post effective immediately!
We look forward to promoting economic and social development, and to engage the people of this region.
- Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 24, 2020
Mike Pompeo reaffirmed that Washington intends to "continue to support political negotiations to resolve the differences between Morocco and the Polisario, within the framework of the autonomy plan presented by Morocco".
Jared Kushner
, the son-in-law and adviser to the American president, took his seat on Tuesday, with an Israeli delegation on board the first direct flight between Israel and Morocco, where he signed a declaration which notably provides for the opening of an American consulate in Dakhla, in the south of Western Sahara, reports Agence France Presse.
Donald Trump's son-in-law is the architect of the recent rapprochements between now four Arab countries and the Hebrew state.
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See also
: The rapprochement between Morocco and Israel upsets the balance of power in the region
This announcement by Donald Trump is a diplomatic victory for Morocco while the Polisario Front which, supported by Algeria, still calls for a self-determination referendum - referendum provided for by a ceasefire signed under the aegis of the The United Nations in 1991. The United Nations operation in this case is also called the Minurso, the Mission for the organization of a referendum in Western Sahara.
But Rabat for its part offers autonomy for the territory, placed de facto in its bosom.
We speak in the Cherifian kingdom of the "southern provinces", they have in particular been the subject of a major regionalization policy advanced since 2015. Several armed incidents have opposed troops from Morocco and the Polisario in recent weeks.
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See also
: Western Sahara: Morocco represses separatists (Note from Human Rights Watch)
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See also
: Western Sahara: the silence of the UN after Trump's announcement
(with agencies)
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