French support for Moroccan sovereignty over Sahara to have a domino effect in Europe- French diplomat

French unambiguous support for Morocco’s autonomy plan and its sovereignty over the Sahara territory would reverberate across Europe, where many countries would follow suit, former French ambassador to Algeria Xavier Driencourt said.

France, a permanent security council member, has a significant influence that could encourage other nations, particularly European ones, to reconsider their position on the Sahara issue in Morocco’s favor, the diplomat Le Figaro.

He expects the French position to have a domino effect in encouraging other recognitions of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.

Macron had sent a letter to King Mohammed VI on Throne Day , celebrated July 30, in which he said the autonomy plan “is the only basis for reaching a just, lasting and negotiated political solution within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.”

Macron added that he considers the future and present of the Sahara territory within Moroccan sovereignty.

Driencourt said France was aware of the potential Alegrian reactions. But he said that French interests with Morocco overweight those with Algeria.

“Paris knows this and, I think, made this decision with full knowledge of the facts, that is to say by weighing the advantages and disadvantages. We can think that the government felt that the current status quo was leading to a dead end and that the advantages were now leaning towards the Moroccan side and that conclusions had to be drawn,” he explained.