Morocco has diplomatic advantage over Western Sahara

Significance

With this new policy, Madrid has abandoned a longstanding position of neutrality on Western Saharan independence from Morocco, a matter of great importance for many Spaniards across the political spectrum and one of strategic importance for Algeria.

Impacts

• Morocco’s success in changing Spanish and German policy on Western Sahara could encourage a campaign to leverage other European states.
• Believing that time is on its side, Morocco will drag out the peace process by slowing the momentum of the recently appointed UN envoy.
• Algeria will keep supporting the Western Saharan independence movement’s renewed armed attacks against Rabat’s forces in the Sahara.