Mali Backs Morocco’s Western Sahara Autonomy Plan, Ends Support for Separatists
The transitional government of Mali has officially endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed territory of Western Sahara, marking a significant diplomatic shift. In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mali announced it is withdrawing its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), the separatist entity backed by the Polisario Front. Bamako described the Moroccan proposal, which offers genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, as the only serious and credible basis for resolving the decades-long conflict. This decision aligns Mali with growing international support for Rabat’s initiative, including backing from the United States under the Trump administration, most European Union members, and a recent United Nations Security Council resolution adopted in October 2025. The UN resolution highlighted the plan as realistic but did not determine final status or include a referendum on independence, a key demand of the Polisario Front and its allies such as Algeria, Russia, and China. The move underscores changing geopolitical dynamics in North and West Africa, where Western Sahara is increasingly viewed through the lens of economic potential, attracting investment in fishing, agriculture, and renewable energy infrastructure from European and American firms.
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Mali Backs Morocco’s Western Sahara Autonomy Plan, Ends Support for Separatists
The transitional government of Mali has officially endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed territory of Western Sahara, marking a significant diplomatic shift. In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mali announced it is withdrawing its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), the separatist entity backed by the Polisario Front. Bamako described the Moroccan proposal, which offers genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, as the only serious and credible basis for resolving the decades-long conflict. This decision aligns Mali with growing international support for Rabat’s initiative, including backing from the United States under the Trump administration, most European Union members, and a recent United Nations Security Council resolution adopted in October 2025. The UN resolution highlighted the plan as realistic but did not determine final status or include a referendum on independence, a key demand of the Polisario Front and its allies such as Algeria, Russia, and China. The move underscores changing geopolitical dynamics in North and West Africa, where Western Sahara is increasingly viewed through the lens of economic potential, attracting investment in fishing, agriculture, and renewable energy infrastructure from European and American firms.
AP News