British MPs press London to recognize Moroccanness of Sahara

Several British MPs have urged their government to recognize Morocco’s full sovereignty over its entire Sahara territory, describing the North African Kingdom as UK’s second oldest ally and a reliable partner.

During a debate held lately at the UK Parliament, MP Daniel Kawczynski, member of the ruling Conservative party, said the United States of America, one of UK’s most important allies, has recognized the sovereignty of the Sahara as Moroccan.

Other allies such as Spain—the former colonial power in Sahara—France, the Netherlands, Germany and others, all support and recognize that the autonomy plan offered by Morocco for the Sahara is the best option going forward, said Mr. Kawczynski, urging the British government to follow the footprint of its Western allies or run the risk of a major miscalculation in UK geopolitical strategic approach, not only to Morocco but to the whole of north Africa.

Morocco is the best Arab country to engage with. It has the most progressive society and one, most importantly, that shares UK values, he added.

Morocco is also “a reliable strategic partner, which pursues all the attributes of a modern democracy. We can and must build strong commercial, political, and security links with this nation”, underlined the MP who served in the Parliamentary foreign Affairs Committee.

“If the British government continues to sit on the fence, London jeopardizes its potential with Rabat and risks falling behind its competitors—the United States of America, Germany, Spain and others”, he underlined, recalling the heroic stand of late King Mohammed V who protected the Jews and refused to comply with the diktat of Vichy France and Adolf Hitler during World war II.

This is testimony to the way in which the royal family of the Kingdom of Morocco protects all religious minorities, he said, praising women’s empowerment in the country, which enjoys a greater freedom of the press than in other Arab countries.

The British MP sees Morocco as thriving democracy where the rule of law is protected and people can debate and challenge one another without fear of retribution.

He also commended the key role played by Morocco in curbing the flow of illegal migration to Europe, saying that Moroccan authorities have prevented over 300,000 illegal crossings to Spain and Europe.

With the restrictions in the Red sea and ultimately the Suez canal as a result of the conduct of the Houthi rebels, the waterway around the Moroccan coastline will be even more important for UK’s security and defense capability, said Mr. Kawczynski.

There are huge commercial opportunities with Morocco. Between 700,000 and 1 million British tourists visit Morocco every year. “We also have a company, Xlinks that seeks to export green energy by funnelling solar and wind power from Morocco through an undersea cable to Britain, said the MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham.

For his part, Labor MP Fabian Hamilton said that one of the most essential things for the resolution of any conflict is economic development, and that this is exactly what the Moroccan Government have done so far in the Sahara.

“I am one of the MPs who have been to Laayoune and I saw for myself the effects of that economic development on the Sahrawi people”, he said, affirming that more economic development will help ending the Sahara conflict.

Conservative MP Liam Fox stressed the importance of stability in the region for Britain’s national security. “Morocco is a key partner in the fight against people smuggling, illegal migration, terrorism and Iranian influence in the region”, said the former Defense secretary.

Many MPs find it inexplicable that the Government do not follow UK’ partners and allies including Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States in recognizing that “the autonomy plan is the only way forward and and the only way that we can create progress for those who live in the region and wish to see not only security and stability, but economic development and eventually democratic progress”, underlined Mr.Fox, who also served as UK Trade Secretary.