A UK government source told Assahifa English that the United Kingdom’s position on the Western Sahara issue is “firm and clear,” pointing to the joint statement issued following the Strategic Dialogue session between London and Rabat, while refraining from commenting on Algeria’s recent response to this stance.
Assahifa English had addressed questions to the British Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, regarding his department’s position on the statement issued by Algeria, in which it expressed its "regret" over London’s consideration of Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative as “the most serious, credible, and realistic” basis for resolving the Western Sahara issue. In response, the government source reaffirmed that London stands by the contents of the joint statement signed in Rabat on June 1, 2025.
The joint statement, issued following the fifth session of the Strategic Dialogue between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United Kingdom—chaired by Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his British counterpart David Lammy on Sunday, June 1—states that the UK considers the Moroccan Autonomy Proposal “the most credible, serious and pragmatic basis for achieving an enduring and peaceful solution to the dispute.”
The statement emphasized that the UK will continue to work at both bilateral and international levels—including in areas of economic and regional cooperation—in line with this position, to support efforts toward resolving the conflict. This development represents a new strategic gain for Rabat at the UN Security Council, especially given the UK’s status as a permanent member.
The document further stated that the United Kingdom is closely following the current positive momentum surrounding the issue under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, highlighting that resolving the conflict would enhance stability in North Africa and advance regional integration and the bilateral dynamic between Rabat and London.
British support did not stop at the political level. The statement also included clear references to potential economic backing, noting that “UK Export Finance may consider supporting projects in the Moroccan Sahara,” as part of its commitment to mobilize £5 billion to support new projects in Morocco.
In a reaffirmation of Morocco’s growing role as a strategic partner, the UK described the Kingdom as “a key gateway for Africa’s socio-economic development,” reiterating its commitment to deepening cooperation across the continent.
Both parties also reiterated their support for the UN-led process and the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, with the UK expressing its readiness to provide “effective support and full engagement” to the UN envoy and the concerned parties.
In a strong political message, the statement concluded by asserting that “the time has come to move forward on this issue and reach a solution to the dispute,” adding that resolving this long-standing conflict would be in the interest of regional stability and would strengthen both bilateral and international partnerships—an assessment echoed by most political analyses of the Western Sahara file, which agree that Morocco is on the verge of a final resolution.
