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Friday, March 29, 2024
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The Biden administration is called upon to reaffirm both its support for Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara and for the mediation process under the UN aegis to resolve this dispute, underlines an influential American think tank.


In a report entitled “Seizing Opportunities and Strengthening Alliances in North and West Africa”, the Washington Institute for Middle East Policy recommends that the new US administration strengthen its strategic partnership with Morocco, “ America's oldest Arab ally ”.


In this sense, the report explains that there is “no contradiction” between the recognition of the Moroccan character of the Sahara and support for UN mediation, adding that Washington should urge the UN Secretary-General to appoint a new Special envoy while pleading in favor of maintaining the deployment of MINURSO “to preserve a fragile peace in the region”.


“At the same time, Washington should encourage Morocco to make the most of  its ties with Israel by establishing, as quickly as possible, embassies (…) and by exploring partnerships in the economic, cultural, educational and technological fields, among other partnerships capable of bringing long-term benefits to the Moroccan people ”, supports the think tank.


Likewise, the United States should “capitalize” on the recognition of the Sahara to support the process of democratization in the Kingdom, in particular through the promotion of advanced autonomy, human rights and local governance.


“One of the consequences of the Covid crisis has been a greater devolution of governance responsibilities from Rabat to the localities, a trend that Washington should encourage as a means of increasing accountability and improving the deployment of public services”, notes the report.


Economically, the report advocates targeted US economic aid for job creation for young people, noting that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has supported various projects aimed at supporting job opportunities for young people under 34.


“More could be done, in particular to stimulate private sector development and entrepreneurship,” it said.


The think tank believes that the Biden administration should “encourage and take advantage of the Moroccan presence in Africa”, stressing that “HM King Mohammed VI has devoted enormous energy over the past twenty years to cultivating the diplomatic, financial and security of Morocco throughout West and sub-Saharan Africa ”.


Morocco, it added, has also invested heavily in key sectors across the continent such as telecommunications, banking and phosphates.


“As Africa, and the Sahel in particular, is increasingly a place of terrorist activism as well as an area of ​​growing Russian and Chinese involvement, Morocco's ability to project its power as a stabilizing force will only gain importance for the regional interests of the United States in the years to come ”, it is stressed.


“Washington should therefore welcome the Kingdom's involvement across the continent and design its aid - in particular in the security and economic fields - taking more into account how this aid can promote Morocco's capacity to serve as a regional stabilizer” , concludes the report.


-News on Western Sahara / Corcas-

 

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