Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 01/06/2025

Algeria has taken note of the new position adopted by the United Kingdom on the issue of Western Sahara.
Algeria regrets the United Kingdom's decision to support the Moroccan autonomy plan. In its eighteen years of existence, this plan has never been submitted to the Sahrawis as a basis for negotiation, nor has it ever been taken seriously by successive UN envoys. They all noted the emptiness of the Moroccan autonomy initiative and its inability to offer a serious and credible solution to the conflict in Western Sahara.

Indeed, the Moroccan autonomy plan was never intended to serve as a basis for a political settlement to this conflict. Its aims have always been to occupy space to prevent any search for a serious settlement, to allow Morocco to gain time and gradually accustom the international community to the fait accompli of the illegal occupation of Western Sahara.
Algeria notes, however, that the United Kingdom has neither mentioned nor provided support for Morocco's alleged sovereignty over the territory of Western Sahara and therefore does not condone the illegal occupation of this non-self-governing territory within the meaning of international law. It also notes that during the press conference, the British Secretary of State publicly and solemnly reaffirmed the United Kingdom's commitment to the principle of the right to self-determination. In view of this dual specificity of the new British position on the Western Sahara issue, Algeria expresses the hope that, as a permanent member of the Security Council, the United Kingdom will continue to hold Morocco accountable for its international responsibilities and that it will also continue to ensure compliance with international law, particularly the United Nations doctrine on decolonization.