French government “Regret” the decision of the presidential party La République en Marche (LRM) to open a committee in Western Sahara, controlled largely by Morocco but claimed by the separatists of the Polisario Front, declared Tuesday April 13 the French Secretary of State for Affairs European.
“It is an initiative taken locally that I regret and which does not change France’s position on this highly sensitive issue”, said Clément Beaune during a questioning session to the government at the National Assembly.
The opening of a committee of the LRM, party of President Emmanuel Macron, in Dakhla, Western Sahara, has raised questions, especially in Algeria, which supports the Polisario Front against Morocco. The party leadership has already hinted in recent days that it will not reverse this decision which, according to it, is a “Local initiative”.
Recalling the “Permanent risk of tension” in Western Sahara, Clément Beaune underlined the importance of the search for a political solution “Within the framework of international legality and the United Nations”.
A shame “
“The whole of this situation reminds us of the urgency of the only possible way, that of the resumption of a political process. It is this path of balance that France defends, he clarified. In this perspective, let’s face it, the Moroccan autonomy plan is a serious and credible basis for discussion that must be taken into account. “
Communist deputy Jean-Paul Lecoq described as ” shame “ the opening of this local committee and wondered about the role of the executive in this decision, accusing Emmanuel Macron of “Spit on the resolutions of official institutions like the UN or the European Court of Justice”.
The Polisario Front, which proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1976, calls for the holding of a referendum scheduled by the UN when a ceasefire is signed between the belligerents in 1991.
Morocco, which controls about 80% of this vast desert territory, a former Spanish colony, is proposing an autonomy plan under its sovereignty.