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Key Third Parties: The United States, France, and
the European Union
While they do not recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, two close
and powerful allies and providers of aid, the United States and France, vocally
support Morocco’s autonomy plan as a basis for negotiations to resolve the conflict.
However, neither country adequately uses the influence this gives them with
Moroccan authorities to urge, including publicly when warranted, dramatic
improvements in respect for human rights in Western Sahara. The EU, which recently
upgraded its already good relations with Morocco, should also keep the situation in
Western Sahara central to its human rights dialogue with its southern partner.
The United States
The U.S. State Department spokesperson said on May 1, 2008:
An independent Sahrawi state is not a realistic option. In our view,
some form of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only
realistic way forward to resolve this longstanding conflict. We urge the
parties to focus future discussions on a mutually-acceptable
autonomy regime that is consistent with the aspirations of the people
of Western Sahara …. Morocco has presented a proposal that we
believe is serious and credible. 51
US bilateral assistance, which had been averaging about US$30 million per year,
increased dramatically when the government-backed Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC) approved on August 31, 2007 a five-year US$697.5 million
economic aid package to Morocco. The package, intended to fight poverty and
promote economic growth, was the largest grant made by the MCC since its creation
in January 2004.
51 Department of State, daily press briefing, May 1, 2008, taken question, www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2008/may/104267.htm
(accessed September 22, 2008).
Human Rights in Western Sahara and Tindouf 32