Algeria Withdraws Ambassador from France Over Western Sahara Autonomy Plan

#Politics
Algeria Withdraws Ambassador from France Over Western Sahara Autonomy Plan

Loveworld / 8 mins

August 1, 2024

1 min read

Algeria has withdrawn its ambassador from France following Paris’s endorsement of Morocco’s controversial plan for limited autonomy in Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty. This move comes after French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed support for Morocco’s 2007 autonomy proposal in a letter to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI.
Macron’s letter emphasized France’s consistent backing of Morocco’s plan as a viable resolution to the long-standing Western Sahara dispute. Morocco, which claims authority over Western Sahara since 1975 and controls most of the territory, views this endorsement as a significant diplomatic victory.
In contrast, Algeria supports the Polisario Front, which seeks independence for Western Sahara and represents the Sahrawi people. The Polisario Front has condemned France’s shift in stance as an effort to bolster its influence in Africa at the expense of Sahrawi self-determination.
France’s decision reflects a broader trend, with several countries, including Spain, the United States, and others in Africa, aligning with Morocco’s position. This development represents a major diplomatic setback for the Polisario Front and fu