Senegal Reaffirms Support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan for Sahara at UN Meeting
Rabat – Senegal has once again confirmed its strong support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan as a solution to the Western Sahara dispute.
The statement came during a speech by Senegal's Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Diamane Diome, at the UN's C24 (Special Committee on Decolonization) session, taking place in New York between June 9 and 20.
Diome said that his country 'wishes to reaffirm its steadfast support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative, which the Security Council has described as serious and credible in its successive resolutions since 2007.'
He noted that more than 118 UN member countries, including three permanent members of the Security Council, now support this initiative. France, the United States, and, most recently, the United Kingdom, have expressed their support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative.
The ambassador also pointed to Morocco's progress in promoting human rights in the region, especially through the work of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) offices in Dakhla and Laayoune.
In addition, the diplomat spoke about Morocco's major investments in its southern provinces, which are part of the new development model aimed at boosting sustainable growth, protecting the environment, and promoting local culture. These projects are helping improve living standards and human development indicators in the region.
Senegal also commended Morocco for fully respecting the ceasefire agreement and for cooperating with the UN peacekeeping mission MINURSO. Ambassador Diome called on other parties to also respect the ceasefire, as outlined in Security Council Resolution 2756.
He further urged more cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme to better protect the rights of people living in the Tindouf camps, including their freedom of expression, access to aid, and the need for proper registration in line with international humanitarian law.
The Senegalese diplomat welcomed the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for the Sahara to restart the political process. He encouraged all involved parties to return to roundtable talks to reach a realistic and lasting political solution.
Diome concluded by reaffirming Senegal's full support for Morocco's sovereignty and territorial integrity and recalled that Senegal opened a consulate general in the southern city of Dakhla on April 5, 2021. Tags: autonomy plansenegalWestern sahara
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Biladi
3 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
France : New Moroccan consulate opens in Mantes-la-Jolie
A new Moroccan Consulate General was officially inaugurated on Friday in Mantes-la-Jolie, in the Paris region, further strengthening Morocco's consular network in France, which now includes 17 consulates. This opening is part of a broader strategy focused on proximity, modernization, and efficiency to better serve Moroccan nationals abroad. The new consulate is the result of an initiative by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Residing Abroad, aimed at addressing the needs of a large and active diaspora deeply connected to their country of origin. The inauguration ceremony—covering three departments in the Île-de-France region: Yvelines, Seine-Maritime, and Eure, home to nearly 156,000 Moroccans—was attended by Ambassador Samira Sitail; Fouad Kadmiri, Director of Consular and Social Affairs at the Ministry; and Mustapha El Bouazzaoui, Consul General of Morocco in Mantes-la-Jolie. French officials were also present, including the Prefect of Yvelines, Frédéric Rose; President of the Yvelines Departmental Council, Pierre Bédier; and the Mayor of Mantes-la-Jolie, Raphaël Cognet, along with numerous local elected officials, institutional representatives, and members of the Moroccan community from the covered departments. In her speech, Ambassador Sitail welcomed the opening, calling it a «source of pride and connection with Morocco» for the Moroccan communities in the three departments. She also praised the support of «our French friends» and their role in bringing the project to fruition. Fouad Kadmiri noted that the inauguration coincides with the launch of the Marhaba operation, as many Moroccans prepare to return home for the summer holidays, adding that the new consulate «comes at an opportune time to help the entire consular network rise to the occasion». For his part, Consul General Mustapha El Bouazzaoui said the consulate—which brings the total number of Moroccan consulates in Île-de-France to six—will be operational starting Monday. He noted it responds to a long-standing demand from Moroccans in Yvelines, Seine-Maritime, and Eure, with over 780 appointment requests already registered through the dedicated application.
Ya Biladi
3 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
Rabat march planned in solidarity with Iran
The National Action Group for Palestine has announced a solidarity march with Iran, scheduled for this Sunday, June 22, in Rabat. On Friday, June 20, the NGO held a sit-in outside the House of Representatives to denounce what it described as «Israeli aggression against the Palestinian and Iranian peoples». The day before, the organizers held a press conference urging «the Moroccan people to turn out in large numbers for the June 22 march». The Moroccan Front for the Support of Palestine and Against Normalization has not yet confirmed whether it will take part in the Rabat march. This coalition, which includes Islamists from Al Adl wal Ihsane as well as members of the left, notably from the PSU, has already condemned «Israeli aggression» against Iran. On June 17, the Front's national secretariat criticized «the absence of our country from the list of Maghreb, Arab, and Islamic nations that signed the declaration condemning Zionist aggression against Iran's sovereignty». As a reminder, Morocco cut diplomatic ties with Iran on May 1, 2018, citing Iran-backed Hezbollah's military support for the Polisario militias. Iran has recognized the self-proclaimed «Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)» since 1980.
Morocco World
4 hours ago
- Morocco World
France's Gender Equality Minister Visits Morocco to Help Boost Women's Empowerment
Rabat – France's Minister for Gender Equality and the Fight Against Discrimination, Aurore Bergé, will visit Morocco from June 23-25. The trip aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation on feminist diplomacy, human rights, and social issues, building on the strategic dialogue launched after President Emmanuel Macron's state visit in October of 2024. Central to the visit is the goal of promoting economic empowerment for women. In Rabat, Bergé is scheduled to meet with Naïma Ben Yahia, Morocco's Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion, and Family, to discuss joint initiatives aimed at preventing violence against women. A joint declaration of intent is planned to outline the shared objective of integrating women's rights into public policy. In Nouaceur – a province near Casablanca known for its industrial zones and home to the Mohammed V International Airport – the minister will visit the Safran Nacelles industrial site along with the Institute of Aeronautics Trades to examine the role of women in the Moroccan industrial sector, focusing on vocational training and professional integration programs. Bergé will also meet with Nadia Fettah Alaoui, Minister of Economy and Finance, Amina Bouayach, President of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), and Ahmed Abbadi, Secretary General of the Rabita of the Ulemas – Muslim scholars – to discuss gender-related issues across governmental and institutional levels. The visit will include a review of field projects supported by the French Development Agency, such as the 'Ajyal Égalité' program, which provides support for women affected by violence. The trip may also facilitate Morocco's participation in the international conference on feminist diplomacy scheduled in Paris in October 2025. In Marrakech, Minister Bergé will visit social institutions including the Lalla Amina Center for children deprived of family care and facilities focused on women's economic empowerment. The visit aims to promote coordination among institutional, economic, and associative actors related to social inclusion and gender equality. The visit comes as Morocco ranks 137th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum's 2025 Global Gender Gap Report—second in the Maghreb and tenth in the Arab world. Despite slight gains in education and political representation, Morocco remains near the bottom globally in economic participation and health. By contrast, France ranks 35th and holds fourth place among G7 nations. The visit's focus on feminist diplomacy and women's empowerment reflects an official effort to advance gender equality on an international level. However, some of Bergé's previous statements expose deeper tensions within white Western feminism—where orientalist biases and selective political narratives can undermine solidarity and inclusivity. Following the murder of a Muslim man at the Khadija mosque in La Grand-Combe, southern France, Minister Aurore Bergé sparked controversy by dismissing the use of the term 'islamophobia' to describe the attack. 'I understand those who might spontaneously use it, because they see it as a way (…) to express support and empathy. But I believe it is not an appropriate term,' Bergé said. 'I also discussed this with the Prime Minister. Sometimes, we must allow for nuance. This nuance is crucial to me because I know those pushing to impose this term today do so with questionable intentions,' she added. Simultaneously, Bergé demanded a firm break from the left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI) over allegations of antisemitism. Yet, these accusations are less about hostility toward Jewish people and more about LFI's outspoken condemnation of the Israeli state and its ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza—a pressing feminist issue and a litmus test of genuine political and social commitment to justice.
