Morocco Affirms Legal Sovereignty on Southern Territorial Waters

The Moroccan parliament adopted two laws laying down the Kingdom’s legal authority over the territorial water off Sahara.

The first law extends the Atlantic territorial waters from Tangier to Lagouira while the second provides for the demarcation of an exclusive economic area of 200 nautical miles off Morocco’s coats.

The delimitation of Morocco’s territorial waters through the two laws came in implementation of Royal directives, said foreign minister Nasser Bourita.

He added that the demarcation of maritime domain is a sovereign act in line with the UN law of the sea.

However, the move is not a “fait accompli” as Morocco remains a “responsible state” open to negotiations without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity.