Mali Endorses Morocco's Autonomy Plan for Western Sahara
Mali has officially joined the ranks of countries supporting Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, as confirmed by the country's Foreign Minister, Abdoulaye Diop. This announcement comes in the wake of the United Nations Security Council's resolution, adopted in November 2022, which urges all parties involved to resume negotiations centered around Morocco's proposed plan. The aim is to bring an end to the decades-long conflict in the region, which pits Morocco against the Polisario Front, a group backed by Algeria.
This endorsement by Mali is particularly significant given the rising tensions with Algeria. Last year, Mali accused Algeria of deliberately downing a Malian drone near their shared borders, alleging that this act was intended to hinder Mali's military operations against armed groups. Mali characterized this incident as a hostile act and a violation of the principle of non-use of force. In contrast, Algeria claimed that its forces shot down a weaponized reconnaissance drone that had breached its airspace.
Mali's support for Morocco's plan follows similar endorsements from several other countries in the region, including Kenya and Ghana, both of which supported Morocco's autonomy initiative last year. Additionally, over twenty nations, predominantly from Africa, have established consulates in Western Sahara, indicative of their backing for Morocco's sovereignty over this contested territory.
Moreover, Mali, along with Niger and Burkina Faso, has also backed a Moroccan plan that provides them access to the Atlantic Ocean via Moroccan ports, although the details of this arrangement remain to be fully articulated.
As reported by france24.com.
