Algiers, 27 July 2024 (SPS) - Algeria voiced on Thursday its “deep disapproval” of France’s “unexpected, ill-timed and counterproductive” decision to endorse Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, affirming that the Algerian government will “consider all the consequences stemming from this French decision” for which the French government “alone assumes complete responsibility.”
“The Algerian government has taken note, with great regret and deep disapproval, of the unexpected, ill-timed and counterproductive decision of the French government providing unequivocal and unqualified support to Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Community Abroad said in a statement.
Noting that the “decision was officially communicated to the Algerian authorities by the French authorities in recent days,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes that “colonial powers, both old and new, tend to recognize, understand and assist one another.”
According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, “France’s decision clearly stems from questionable political motives, morally dubious assumptions and legal interpretations that lack any foundation or justification.”
“This French decision does not contribute to a peaceful resolution of the Western Sahara issue. Instead, it bolsters the impasse–one precisely created by the so-called Moroccan autonomy plan–which has lasted for more than seventeen years,” the same source said.
For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “even though the international community has long been convinced that the Western Sahara issue undoubtedly falls under a decolonization process to be completed, this French decision twists the facts by giving credence to colonial practices and unjustifiably backs Morocco’s alleged sovereignty over Western Sahara’s territory.”
“France’s stance is especially unacceptable given that it comes from a permanent member of the Security Council supposed to adhere to the Council’s decisions in particular and international law in general,” according to the same source.
“Finally, at a time when the UN is mobilizing efforts to give new momentum to the process of seeking a political settlement to the conflict in Western Sahara, this French decision runs counter to these efforts and hinders progress towards peace, stability and security in the region,” the statement noted.
The Algerian government views that the French decision “does not serve the objectives of peace in Western Sahara. It only serves to extend the current impasse, and both justifies and bolsters the colonial fait accompli in this territory,” added the same source.
“The Algerian government will consider all the consequences stemming from this French decision, for which the French government bears sole and complete responsibility,” the statement wrapped up.