If Morocco is examining its autonomy project for the southern provinces through consulting political parties and representatives of Sahrawi associations, this bold project is a democratic measure in the management of this issue making it a ground and a framework and, at the same time, allows to activate a new methodology for dealing with its various aspects  primarily with the Moroccan Sahrawi citizen and his social, political and economic aspirations as well as the psychological and historical dimensions, which increased the issue’s complexity.

Indeed, enlarged autonomy is an advanced feature of self-determination according to the  chairman of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs, Khalihenna Ould Errachid, at “Hiwar” programme aired Tuesday by the Moroccan TV. The empowerment of the southern regions by an enlarged autonomy in the framework of national sovereignty "is the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Morocco"

In this context, Ould Errachid confirmed that the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs was created "to find final reconciliation with Sahrawis who agree voluntarily with the project. He added that the Council " will talk to all Sahrawis wherever they are, whether in Algeria or elsewhere and persuade them that Morocco today provides them the political, economic and social position they deserve".  They called on Sahrawis to abandon independence and on Algeria to stop assisting separatists and encourage unionists. "Even if Mohamed Abdelaziz wants to become the first president of autonomy we "will help him," said Khalihenna Ould Errachid.

Ould Errachid denied "the existence of Sahrawi state" explaining that "in order to build a state there should be a land , people and sovereignty with all its components which does not apply to Polisario in Tindouf camps". Also, it is "impossible to organize a referendum in the Sahara without the participation of all Sahrawis inside and outside Morocco", said the council’s chairman appointed by King Mohammed VI.

The new methodology is based upon Algeria which shares a common history with Morocco and the Moroccan people, based on its declarations that it is not interested in the Sahara issue. "It has hosted our cousins in certain circumstances, (said Ould Errachid, we thank it for that (and we will ask them to let these citizens go home to meet their relatives in the framework of an enlarged autonomy".

In this regard, the President of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs said that the new council was not built on the ruins of the former one, but came to create the political, economic, social, diplomatic and psychological climate for the application of autonomy and that Morocco will fight for its people in the Sahara the same way it defends its territorial integrity.

News and events relating to Western Sahara issue / Corcas