The geostrategic calculation of America’s position on Western Sahara King Mohammed VI of Morocco and U.S. President Barack Obama in the White House, November 22. By Roudani Cherkaoui Following the Moroccan king’s visit to the White House and the U.S. reaffirmation of support for Morocco’s initiative proposed to solve the Western Sahara conflict, we should reconsider the meaning of this position as part of a successful geopolitical strategy for Africa. Today, the African continent suffers from a dangerous scourge of racial, ethnic and political dislocation with immeasurable consequences. To counter these dangerous trends, the U.S. administration has reaffirmed the position of the Kingdom of Morocco and its legitimate diplomatic struggle for the consolidation of its territorial integrity and the defense of its national sovereignty. The recent White House statement demonstrates U.S. recognition of Morocco’s reforms in economic development and institutional democracy. Opponents of the Kingdom, on the other hand, have tried to exploit the issue of human rights to harm Morocco’s image and sovereignty by trying to buy positions from supportive organizations. On the other hand, the U.S. position is a testimony of respect and strength of the ongoing U.S.-Morocco relationship and strategic partnership. The White House position on the Moroccan Sahara, in fact, reaffirms the opinion of the International Court of Justice in 1975. The court explicitly recognized that the Sahara has never been terra nullius and certified that between the southern provinces and the Kingdom of Morocco were legal attachments and allegiances that had been altered by Spain, their previous colonizer. American pragmatism in its approach to the region is clear through this declaration that confirms U.N. resolutions on the realistic feasibility of the autonomy initiative of the southern provinces presented by Morocco as a solution to the decades-old conflict. Former Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations Peter Van Walsum has repeatedly reminded the international community of the credible nature of Morocco’s semi-autonomy proposal for the territory, with reference to U.N. Security Council resolutions 1754 and even 1920. The White House statement following the meeting of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and U.S. President Barack Obama reflects the quintessence of the Moroccan proposal, which is a potential approach that can satisfy the aspirations of the people of Western Sahara to run their own affairs in peace and dignity. This sentiment is reflected in a letter sent in recent days to President Obama by nine former U.S. ambassadors to Morocco. In regions plagued by economic and political insecurity, the international community needs leadership that embodies both an ambitious roadmap and a stable model. In this sense, the White House statement shows the beginnings of a major project to which the Kingdom is called to assume its responsibility in remedying a catastrophic situation. The American declarations illustrate the nation’s share in a geopolitical context and concern for geostrategic issues in North Africa. It is a call that evokes the dangers that faces an entire region and the impact of the continuation of this strife between Morocco, the Polisario Front and Algeria. The situation that has engulfed the region, and the increasing activities and terrorist operations in the Sahel region, sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa is a grim reality. The crisis in northern Mali and the dire security atmosphere in the Horn of Africa, West Africa and the Sahel are of great concern for the U.S. administration. Moreover, the situation is alarming due to Al Qaeda’s reach through its local tentacle Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, whose well-crafted strategy to create a “Somalization” is focused on trying to recover more Polisario elements and mercenaries who fought in Libya. As terrorist operations in the region crescendo, international observers observe the intersection of terrorist groups with drug traffickers in a collusion of interests that threatens the fragile stability of several African countries. Beyond the current impasse regarding Western Sahara is an emergency need to accelerate peace restoration efforts and secure porous borders that avail Al-Qaeda the opportunity to threaten the stability of an entire area. The U.S. declaration will undoubtedly generate greater support of the international community for Morocco’s initiative. Due to its history, geographical position and credibility as a pioneering model, Morocco is a platform for all essential and important economic strategy in North Africa and sub-Saharan regions. Among these essential strategies is the urgent need to counter violent extremism. The speech of His Majesty the King at the 38th anniversary of the Green March stressed the importance of giving a boost to the African economy by enhancing the strategic partnership with the countries of the Sahel and sub-Saharan Africa. This statement confirms the King’s vision about Africa and the dignity of African people. The U.S. position reflects its geopolitical vision in the region of North Africa and opposition of any attempt to create “imaginary states” in the region. It also reflects the U.S. support for the serious and credible efforts that have been made by Morocco to move forward towards a settlement of this conflict. For peace in the region, Morocco and Algeria must be able to assume their regional and international responsibilities for economic and human development in this era of globalization. U.S. positions on several countries, such as the model of Panama, provide an opportunity for Algeria to rethink its approach to the Maghreb area. Morocco is geographically positioned at the center of a strategically and economically important triangle of Africa, Europe and the Middle East. President Obama has acknowledged the leadership of His Majesty the King in the consolidation of democracy and the promotion of economic progress. The way Morocco has managed to surpass the upheavals experienced by the Arab world has raised the country as a model and an example in the region. Politico-institutional reforms and the country’s success in modernizing its economic and political institutions will obviously strengthen economic relations between the two countries through their Free Trade Agreement. Morocco can be an important economic lever in the development of Africa. This is an important parameter in any economic equation to reclaim the African market. Roudani Cherkaoui is a Moroccan political scientist and international relations expert on terrorism. His studies on politics and governance in the Arab world have been published in international magazines and newspapers. Posted on November 27, 2013
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 14:16:38 +0000
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