A French report: The West is reshaping its stance on the Sahara, and Morocco is edging closer to a decisive diplomatic victory.
The French newspaper La Nouvelle Obs highlighted significant shifts in the positions of major Western powers regarding the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, suggesting that Morocco is nearing a “decisive diplomatic victory” following Portugal’s official alignment with countries supporting the autonomy proposal, which Lisbon described as “serious, reliable, and constructive.”
The report, prepared by journalist François Reynaert as part of a special series signed by Cyril Bonnet and Louis Morice, characterized this shift in Western capitals’ positions as a “strong blow” to the Polisario Front, backed by the Algerian regime, which continues to demand the establishment of an independent “Sahrawi Republic.”
According to the same source, Portugal joined the ranks of the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Spain in a clear endorsement of the Moroccan initiative, which includes influential countries in the international system, granting Rabat unprecedented political support.
The report recalled the roots of the conflict, which dates back to the end of Spanish colonial rule in 1975, when Morocco regained its southern provinces, leading to a prolonged dispute with the Polisario, which received military and logistical support from Algeria. Following a war that lasted until 1991, the issue fell into a stalemate at the United Nations without a conclusive solution due to complexities surrounding voter identity and sovereignty criteria.
However, signs of a transformation have become evident since December 2020, when the Trump administration recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, an acknowledgment that opened the door to a wave of supporting positions:
- Spain (2022)
- Germany (2023)
- France (2024)
- The United Kingdom (June 2025)
- Portugal (July 2025)
French journalist François Reynaert, known by the moniker “Uncle Obs,” raised several questions in his analysis:
Has the political battle been won in favor of Morocco? What has prompted these capitals to recalibrate their positions? Is the Western world genuinely beginning to abandon the idea of a UN referendum?
The report suggests that the current geopolitical shifts and the resurgence of armed conflicts in the Sahel and Sahara region have led several capitals to view the Moroccan proposal as more realistic and stable compared to the options of separation and division, which are no longer as widely accepted in international policies.
