Polisario Front Calls on France to End its Participation in Aggression against Sahrawi People
BY: Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS- The Polisario Front has strongly condemned recent statements made by the French Ambassador to Rabat, Christophe Lecourtier, regarding the “Moroccan Sahara” fallacy. Lecourtier affirmed France’s support for Morocco since the beginning of the Sahara conflict, stating that France has stood by Morocco’s side, armed it, and intervened militarily against the Front on multiple occasions.
The Polisario Front criticized France for its recent statements, which it perceives as nearing a declaration of support for the “Moroccan Sahara” narrative. The Front accused France of hindering the establishment of peace and stability in the North West African region. It emphasized that France’s overt alignment with Morocco obstructs the unity of the peoples of Greater Morocco and hinders cooperation and integration between its countries.
In a statement issued in response to the remarks made by the French diplomat during a seminar on “Franco-Moroccan Relations: Challenges and Prospects” held at the Faculty of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences in Rabat, the Polisario Front expressed its anger and condemnation. The Front described Lecourtier’s statements as “dangerous” and condemned them in the strongest terms. It held France responsible for the crimes and violations committed against the Sahrawi people, asserting that France is the main obstacle to international efforts to resolve the conflict in the Sahara.
The Polisario Front further accused France of persisting in a policy of hegemony, expressing a desire for France to move beyond its outdated approach and contribute to the establishment of peace. It considered France’s continued support for Rabat as leading to procrastination and stagnation, with grave consequences for all countries and peoples in the Maghreb region, as well as for French strategic interests and international peace and security.
The French Ambassador’s provocative remarks, including his assertion that “France is determined to revive its relationship with the Kingdom,” have stirred controversy. Lecourtier’s comments, which he made during the seminar, have been perceived as indicating a shift in France’s stance towards the Sahara conflict. He suggested that Morocco alone answers the phone compared to other Maghreb countries and hinted at the potential for fruitful cooperation between France and Morocco.
He noted that “Paris has presented an advanced position for years, being the first country to declare its support for self-governance under the United Nations and opening schools in both Dakhla and Laayoune.” Additionally, official French cultural institutions organize month-long tours in the southern regions.
The French ambassador further stated that while they may not have signaled enough in the past, France has now chosen to move forward, as it realizes that this is an existential issue for Morocco, echoing the sentiments of French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné. He emphasized that such a responsible dialogue openly discussing these concepts is not insignificant.
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