Onkelinx, who had just met with visiting secretary general of the Istiqlal (independence) party (government), said this initiative is a "very positive development."

    The Belgian official deemed that the example of federal Belgium, where regions have large competences, "offers many possibilities," adding that the Moroccan proposal opens the way for a settlement of the Sahara issue.

    Morocco's proposal was also hailed by the Sudanese paper, Al Raii Al Aam, as an "efficient solution" to solve this problem opposing Morocco to the Algeria-backed "Polisario" movement, which claims the separation of the Moroccan southern provinces, the Sahara, from the rest of the country.

    This proposal is the “first of its kind in the region” in terms of searching for “realistic solutions,” wrote the paper, stressing that this proposal enjoys national unanimity in Morocco.