Morocco's proposal is being finalized by the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS) at a special meeting, December 4-5 in Rabat, to discuss this autonomy that cares for the kingdom's sovereignty over the territory and territorial integrity. Morocco's move comes in an attempt to solve the three-decade long dispute opposing the North African country to the Algerian-backed separatist movement "Polisario". The latter has been claiming, since 1976, sovereignty over the former Spanish colony which Morocco retrieved in 1975 under the Madrid Accords signed with Spain and Mauritania.
Secretary General of the United Socialist Party (PSU, opposition), Mohamed Moujahid, deems that the settlement of the dispute will pool efforts of the peoples in the Maghreb region to face the common challenges.
Echoing him, leader of the Constitutional Union (UC, opposition), Mohamed Abied, said the CORCAS report would enrich the consultations engaged between the king and the political and social components, noting that the Moroccan people are unanimous in supporting this project.
He called for updating Morocco’s legislation to give substance to the autonomy project that would allow the kingdom achieve economic and social development of its southern provinces.
On his part, Secretary General of the moderate Islamist party Justice and Development (PJD, opposition), Saâd Eddine Othmani, said the autonomy project is “the main solution to the Sahara issue”, underlining that this proposal is part of a national and regional policy that grants large prerogatives to regions, especially the southern regions.
In the same development, CORCAS chairman, Khalihenna Ould Errachid told the Qatar-based satellite TV Al Jazeera that autonomy is the most feasible solution to settle the Sahara dispute as it allows local populations to manage their own political, economic and social affairs.