 The proposal for autonomy in the Sahara, submitted by Morocco with a view to resolving this regional dispute, is one of the most advanced models in the world, participants in the “International Academic Seminar on Autonomy Territorial”.
During this meeting, organized by the Permanent Mission of Morocco to the United Nations in New York, the various speakers presented the models of autonomy in several regions of the world, in particular in Principe, an island of Africa forming with the island of São Tomé the Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, the Cayman Islands (Caribbean) and Rotuma (Oceania).
The autonomy initiative proposed by the Kingdom of Morocco in the Sahara constitutes one of the most advanced models in the world with regard to the broad prerogatives devolved to the region, underlined from the outset the former French diplomat Marc Finaud.
Several UN Security Council resolutions have welcomed this initiative, describing it as a serious and credible effort on the part of Morocco to move towards a solution to the Sahara issue, added Mr. Finaud, a former scientific collaborator of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR).
For his part, Dr. Alan Howard, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, pointed out that unlike the autonomy model adopted in Rotuma, the Moroccan initiative allows local populations to manage fully their own affairs while respecting their cultural specificities.
The Moroccan model, he noted, places the people of the Sahara region at the heart of the decision-making process regarding local affairs, which reinforces the credibility and efficiency of the Moroccan model.
For his part, Gerhard Seibert, associate researcher at the Center for International Studies (CEI) under the University Institute of Lisbon, noted that the autonomy model adopted in Principe does not provide for the independence of the judicial system at the local level.
Principe became an autonomous region in 1995 with a regional legislative assembly and a regional government, he added, noting that regional elections were held in 1995, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022.
As for Vaughan Carter, Chairman of the Cayman Islands Constitutional Commission, he gave an overview of the long process of evolution of the model of autonomy, noting that autonomy has allowed the Cayman Islands to develop the local economy.
The industrial and service sectors have developed significantly through self-reliance, he said.
Speaking during this webinar, Ambassador Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, stressed that this meeting strengthens the building of academic research on the model of autonomy, noting that the Kingdom is serious and sincere in its efforts aimed at resolving the Sahara issue.
And to underline that nearly 100 countries consider that the Moroccan autonomy proposal constitutes a realistic solution to put an end to the regional dispute around the Moroccan Sahara.
Autonomy is an experiment that has been successful in different regions of the world, has brought peace and raised hope, the diplomat stressed.
“What we are proposing is in accordance with international law and legality and what is in force elsewhere,” said Mr. Hilale.
Before the development of this proposal, Moroccan emissaries traveled the world to learn and inquire about similar experiences, recalled the Moroccan ambassador.
During this seminar, the various speakers underlined the importance of promoting regular consultations with a view to improving and expanding the various models of autonomy throughout the world so that they are adapted to the needs and ambitions of local populations.
News and events on Western Sahara issue/ CORCAS
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