Western Sahara: why is Spain ending its neutrality?
A Sahrawi woman carries a Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic flag.
(illustrative image) Farouk Batiche / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
This Saturday, March 19, Algiers recalled its ambassador to Spain for "consultation".
A sign of protest following the support displayed for Rabat's autonomy plan on the question of Western Sahara.
By breaking its position of traditional neutrality, Spain is arousing contrasting reactions among those involved in this dossier.
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On Friday, the head of Spanish diplomacy declared that Morocco's autonomy plan is "
the most serious, realistic and credible basis for the resolution of this dispute
", to say the least historic.
In the eyes of Madrid, this positioning marks a “
new stage
” in relations with Rabat.
By openly supporting the Moroccan authorities' autonomy plan for Western Sahara, Spain is seeking to emerge from a crisis that was beginning to seriously affect it.
This gesture allows him to try to put an end to diplomatic tensions with the kingdom which, in recent months, has increased the pressure.
Comment on RFI by journalist Ignacio Cembrer:
The Spanish government has put an end to 47 years of Spanish neutrality in the Western Sahara conflict, notes Spanish journalist Ignacio Cembrero.
He probably did it to put an end to the crisis with Morocco.
The pressures were numerous on the part of the latter: the massive entry of irregular immigrants into the city of Ceuta last May, the prolonged closure beyond health reasons of the land borders of Ceuta and Melilla, the interruption passenger traffic through the Strait of Gibraltar – which prevents Andalusian ports from working with Morocco.
The list is very, very long.
Morocco has not stopped using peaceful means to make Spain give in.
Something he finally managed to do...
Surprise of Algiers and the Polisario Front
A sign of this rapprochement: the Spanish Prime Minister has scheduled an official visit to Rabat, without specifying a date for the moment.
For the Moroccan authorities, this support is important, because thanks to Madrid, "
Rabat hopes to have more support for its autonomy plan within the European Union and the UN
", explains an observer.
For their part, the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front say they are "
surprised
" by this reversal of Spanish diplomacy.
The former colonial empire still has the “
status of administering power
” on the spot, and as such, it “
should have a balanced approach
”, considers Oubi Bachir Bouchraya, representative of the Polisario Front in Europe.
We deeply deplore this Spanish position which arises in a context of tensions, war, breach of the ceasefire, but at the same time also with efforts by the UN to relaunch the negotiation process
Oubi Bachir Bouchraya, representative of the Polisario Front in Europe
Bineta Diagne
First consequence of this declaration: Algeria, which supports the Polisario Front, recalled its ambassador “
for consultation
”.
And the measure is immediate.
In a press release, Algiers said it was "
very surprised
" by
the "sudden reversal of position
" of the Spanish authorities.
What counterpart for Madrid?
It also remains to be seen whether this “normalization” of relations between the two countries will be sustainable.
The Spanish journalist Ignacio Cembrero remains skeptical: “
We will now have a normal relationship with Morocco, but I don't think we can have a very cordial relationship with Morocco.
He still continues to claim the cities of Ceuta and Melilla
;
it has approved laws on territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zones that encroach on the Canary Islands
;
it does not recognize the territorial waters in Ceuta and Melilla.
»
The journalist believes that Spain has obtained “
no significant consideration
”.
"
It may be that the irregular immigration that arrives in the Canary Islands and which has increased a lot in recent months is decreasing, so Spain has gained a few months of tranquility and peace with its neighbor.
But the relationship will always continue to be complicated
,” he concludes.
Detailed map of Western Sahara.
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Western Sahara
Morocco
Algeria
Spain