The United Kingdom supports Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a final settlement to the Sahara dispute

The Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, and the British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy, had a meeting in Rabat on Sunday 1 June 2025.

A Joint Statement was published stating that the United Kingdom, UN Security Council Permanent Member, expressed its support to the Autonomy Plan proposed by the Kingdom of Morocco, “as the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis for a lasting settlement of the regional dispute” affirming that it will act in accordance with such new position in bilateral, regional and international levels.

Morocco and UK have stressed their joint commitment further deploy efforts to support the UN Secretary General Personal Envoy, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, in his action to find a solution, mutually acceptable by the relevant parties through compromise.

Such a British stand is an outstanding progress in the efforts of the international community to seek an everlasting, peaceful settlement to the Sahara issue and would definitely contribute to speed up the process of ensuring regional security and stability.

According to the Joint Statement, “the resolution of this regional dispute would strengthen stability in North Africa and boost bilateral momentum and regional integration”.

The two parties agreed to further enhance their bilateral cooperation and economic partnership. Through UK Export Finance, the British Government will be investing £5 billion UK to support new economic projects in Morocco, including the Sahara region.

The UK deems Morocco as a key gateway to the socioeconomic development of Africa and an essential partner for growth of the whole Continent. As stated in the Joint Statement, “as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, the United Kingdom shares Morocco’s view on the urgent need to find a solution to this long-standing dispute, which would be in the interests of both parties”.

After the USA and France, the UK is, so far, the third Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council to recognize the sovereignty of Morocco over its Sahara