The United Kingdom has officially endorsed Morocco’s proposal to grant limited autonomy to Western Sahara, marking a significant change in its foreign policy stance on the long-disputed territory.
During a visit to Rabat on Sunday, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy described Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan as the most practical and realistic path to ending the long-standing conflict.
He said the time had come to find a lasting resolution, noting that progress on the issue would play a key role in promoting peace and security across North Africa.
While reaffirming support for the United Nations-led process aimed at resolving the dispute, the UK encouraged Morocco to provide greater clarity on what autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty would look like in practice.
Until now, Britain had maintained that the final status of Western Sahara should be determined through a process that respects the wishes of its people.
Western Sahara has been at the centre of a decades-long tug-of-war since Spain withdrew from the territory in 1975. Morocco claims the region as part of its kingdom, while the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria, is pushing for full independence.
The United Nations still classifies the area, home to around 600,000 people, as a non-self-governing territory.
A UN-brokered ceasefire in 1991 aimed to pave the way for a referendum on the territory’s future, but that vote has yet to happen.
Today, Morocco controls almost all of Western Sahara, except for a narrow strip near the Algerian border held by the Polisario.
Morocco’s foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, welcomed the UK’s support, calling it a boost to efforts aimed at resolving the conflict.
The two countries also signed a number of cooperation agreements spanning sectors such as healthcare, innovation, water infrastructure, and public procurement.
Britain’s endorsement aligns it with other global powers like the United States and France, both of which have already backed Morocco’s stance. European allies such as Germany and Spain have also voiced support for Rabat’s plan in recent years.
However, Algeria responded with criticism, expressing disappointment over the UK’s new position. Its foreign ministry described the autonomy plan as lacking substance and warned that it would not contribute to a meaningful resolution.
Algeria also urged Britain to hold Morocco to its international obligations as a key player on the global stage.
