Scotland and Catalonia bellwethers for Western Sahara?
- HASSAN MASIKY
- 12/03/12
- Written by Hassan Masiky
Washington- Morocco News Board--Would the results of last week’s local elections in Catalonia and the Scottish drive for independence hurt or benefit Morocco’s stand on the Western Sahara conflict? Morocco's Foreign Minister Saad-Eddine Al-Othmani should be addressing this question to his staff. Further, is Rabat aware of the repercussions of such fluid events and the potential ramification of their outcomes on Morocco? Moreover, how would Rabat “exploit” these international events to move the Moroccan agenda?
If a major shortcoming of successive Moroccan Foreign Affairs Ministers continues to be their inability to capitalize on the failures of European independence movements to gain worldwide recognition, political upheavals in Scotland and Catalonia could offer the chief diplomat in Rabat a redeeming opportunity. As the United States and the EU stay cool to the idea of separatism in Europe, Mr. Al-Othmani should seize the moment and ask for a European Union (EU) official endorsement of Morocco’s stand on the Sahara conflict.
In such political environment, a genuine “democratization” of the Morocco Autonomy plan will shore up European support and rally more support form nations that have been neutral in the conflict.
Mr. Othmani should scrutinize the manners by which British Prime Minister David Cameron, who strongly opposes the United Kingdom’s split, and Spain’s Rajoy, who vowed to fight Catalan independence inspiration, would manage these domestic predicaments with international implications.
EU’s “rejection” of the idea of a referendum on Scottish independence and the world cool reception to the Catalans vote to back separatist parties come at an opportune time for the Moroccan diplomacy to sway the Europeans and the United Nations of the viability of Morocco’s Local Autonomy plan for the Western Sahara. For its part, the Moroccan powers that control the domestic decision-making process in the Southren Provinces, must revamp the Kingdom’s approach to local Saharan politics.
It is noteworthy to remind some European countries, including Sweden that opposes Morocco’s Local Autonomy Plan, that the president of the European Council believes that “the move for separatism is a thing of the past.”
If Mr. Van Rompuy claims “that nothing will be gained from breaking up the UK”, the question becomes what would the world achieve by creating a factious entity in the Western Sahara ruled by a former communist militia and sponsored by a foreign military junta.
Given the EU reservation about Scotland’s viability as an independent state, the United Nations should reassess the practicability of an independent Sahrawi entity in the Western Sahara. If Scotland with its democratic, political, security and infrastructure institutions cannot function, then the Algeria backed Polisario with no experience in governance is doomed to turning the Sahara into a failed state.
In Spain, the Catalan’s are having second thoughts about their plans for independence. Worried about the financial uncertainty their region will face in case of separation from Madrid, Catalonians refuse to back the ruling center-right nationalist party CiU push for a quick way to independence.
Recent developments in Scotland and Catalonia position Morocco’s Local Autonomy Plan as the only viable solution to the Sahara conflict, granted the Moroccan government undertakes a serious remaking of the official organism running the Saharan Provinces. From Interior Ministry officials to the King appointed council of Sahrawi notable, the Moroccan Monarch should order a “clean house” campaign that would open serious channels of communication with “the separatists of the interior” and promote capable Sahrawi Unionists to positions of responsibility.
More importantly, the Moroccan government must consider a larger autonomy powers for local Sahrawis and a favorable tax agreement to keep more of the Sahara revenues in the Southern Provinces. Revenues generated from local natural resources must go to a future local autonomy government in Laayoune.
As the EU stays weary of independence minded Basques in Spain, Flanders in Belgium and Northerners in Italy, Morocco must push for its Plan. Rabat should not let double standards derail its campaign for the Moroccan Sahara.
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Comments (11)
I agree that those in charge in Morocco, the king that is, should take note of the events taking place in Europe and I especially concur with making this autonomy a real thing instead of scam proposal.
Morocco's reputation needs to improve. No one in Europe or elsewhere including the sahraouis themselves believe in Morocco's offer. There is no way in this current climate anyone take Morocco seriously, and the reason is very clear cut: the Judicial system.
Morocco is one of the most corrupt system in the world and I do not see how anyone believe that Morocco is serious about implementing the autonomy in way that will benefit the inhabitants of the southern provinces. People out there do not want freebies such cheaper farina and sugar, they want jobs and dignity.
Having constant police presence with batons is not the solution, that only gives the people living there the confirmation that they are under occupation.
Morocco should use any means necessary to be on top of this very important issue.
I still think that this government needs to find a way to negotiate with Algeria. Everyone knows that the conflict is actually between Morocco and Algeria and it will never be solved unless Algeria is on board.
I know that it is a tough sale and Algeria is basically not suffering from the conflict and the ball is n Morocco's court but when I think that France and Germany are now best friends, I feel that there is hope.
I refuse to believe that Morocco and Algeria will continue to be enemies, there must be a way out of this conflict.
The sad part is at this time with those ruling Algeria at this time including Bouteflika, there is no chance that we will see an end to the conflict. Bouteflika himself prefers to die without doing a thing about the eventual partnership between Morocco and Algeria. He is not ready to leave a legacy that allows the peace between our two countries. He will die as a coward who is afraid of peace.
We are happy where we are behind H2 Wall.
Do not you know that Morocco is more than ever united from top to bottom?
The monarchy is more popular than ever in the history of our nation.
Benki Show is the new blockbuster reality show in town even Hollywood would not dream of creating a hit series like it.
The Army is content, disciplined and enjoying its latest toys: F-16 Block 52 fighter jets, M1A1 Abrams tanks, FREMM frigates, SIGMA frigates and all the other big boys toys.
Granted, the Algerian military junta are keeping us alert with their constant diplomatic skermishes and never-ending media wars. At least, they keep our politicians and diplomats on guard and suspicious.
Still the Algerian regime is in a deadend with their outdated economic model based on no free trade deals, all import-import, costly subsidies to keep the peasants' stomachs full and excessive oil rent with no other alternative export on sight.
All in all, if you want to look at things from a reverse psychology perspective, the status quo is fine and fair for Morocco. Keep it that way.
The Algerian regime as it is is a Menna from heavean for Morocco.
Let's keep building our democracy and freedom block by block. Bad cultures do not change overnight. You need to nurture good habits. And I can confirm that for example, Moroccan police are learning to act more civilized with the people they are supposed to serve.
Let's spread the riches of our soil to reach the most marginalised by reforming the subsidy system to target the poor.
Basically, let's keep improving our good governance until we reach those who are ahead of us north of the Med Sea.
The Algerian-Morocc an rivalry is not a sprint. It is a marathon and we are good at marathons, especially the ones which take place on the shifting Sahara sand dunes.
Wa takoulou al-ardou lil-ardi , Ana al-kabrou wa ana a-rahmou was sa abka kabran wa rahman hata tadmahila al-kawakib wa tatahawalou shamsou ila ramad'
I will use the same and would say: Sahara is Moroccan and will remain Moroccan
until all Stars disappear and Sun is transformed to ashes.
No matter what Sweden says or any other country, Morocco will never ever give up it Sahara.
If this require a fight, I am ready to die for it.
Instead of looking at the situation from an honest point of view, they start making up stories and insult each other to see who would be able to come out the winner when in fact there is not winner except those who use out conflict to do business.
Here is what we have now:
Algeria is not interested in solving the problem for internal reasons and hoping to be the sole power in northern Africa. Algeria also does not see itself benefiting from uniting with Morocco, for instance, opening the borders will only serve Morocco and this is perhaps true, Morocco has not done a good job marketing the opening of the borders and how Algeria will also benefit.
They simply say we need to open the borders because we are brothers, Being brothers does not pay the bills.
We have Morocco wanting to solve the conflict but not doing it right, They have baton wielding police running the show and hoping for the sympathy of the locals. Offering an autonomy plan and at the same time making it hard on the sahraouis to accept it. We have more pro polisario now that pro Morocco.
This is what should be discussed instead of going at it like preschoolers.
Grow up please.
The loss to Morocco was the reason Boumediane, who was no big figure in the revolutionary fight, took power; he promised he will stand to Morocco and Hassan II, pursued a hardline in his foreign policy and built alliances with Egypt and Syria, but had a completely approach when it comes to his military as he promoted the DAF (deserteurs de l’armee francaise) generals ….
The problem in the Sahara was a gift for him, to keep Hassan II busy and to allow him to play a bigger role in the region; it also served him in maintaining the need for the Army in Algerian politics; but I am not sure he would have maintained the issue that long…
Right now, Algeria has no plan for the conflict, anytime a politician voices his stand against it; he is attacked and portrayed as a mole for the King. Also, Algeria would see in any form of solution with Moroccan sovereignty a clear loss…
The main problem facing Algeria is that they have no strategy, the longer the conflict lasts, the more difficult it becomes for anybody to envision the Sahara as a country on its own…
Also, there is an evolution of societies and economies that do not play in the Algerian favor, the Moroccan society is evolving to a modern society and the regime is evolving as well, in Algeria, the same grey shadows and ghostly political scene persist, the Moroccan Economy is growing and the Algerian Economy is pure consumerism based on the 98% of oil and gas exports, that are deemed to take a clear hit as Algeria shifts in few years from pure exporter of oil to a net importer…
Try and imagine if Algeria will be able to maintain the cost of this war in 20 years from now… I doubt it, the Algerian society cannot afford to stay behind, despite all the uncertainty in Egypt, the country is certainly evolving in the right direction, Tunisia and Libya have made a long way since Benali and Gaddafi…
The game plan for Algeria in the last 10 years was a clear focus on human rights in the Sahara, the combat on that front has shown its limits, Morocco might receive a yellow card every now and then, but no red card in sight… none…
The last report by Ross is a testimony to this fact...
40 plus years of failure is not going to solve the conflict overnight, a conflict that Morocco have not created. Algeria since Boumedienne have never had any claim on the Sahara but tries everything it can to prevent Morocco from recuperating its southern provinces.
Here is what was said by a high ranking Algerian official in El Watan right after last M6 speech " l’Algérie était prête à aller jusqu’à la réouverture des frontières comme point d’orgue d’une normalisation totale des relations avec le Maroc. Enumérant point par point les reproches au roi, il lui a, naturellement, imputé la responsabilité de l’impasse : “Nous le disons calmement, sans virulence et loin du ton réquisitorial auquel on nous a habitués, c’est bien le Maroc qui a torpillé le processus de normalisation des relations entre nos deux pays alors que nous étions engagés dans une dynamique constructive visant à assainir nos relations bilatérales."
This clearly shows that Algeria is and will always be sabotaging any closeness between the 2 countries. They will use any pretext to continue the status quo. Algeria thinks that it is bankrupting Morocco and they are, we are spending millions and millions to keep 200000 soldiers on their feet guarding us from sudden attacks by the polisario.
There is one thing that is more powerful than the Algerian gas and money. That is reforms and democracy. If Morocco would embrace a change to democracy and reform, that will place an enormous amount of pressure on the Algerian regime, The Algerian people will eventually rise up and rid themselves of Bouteflika and the generals and eventually we will find a way of negotiating with democratic Algeria. There is one little problem, Morocco is not interested in reforms either. Reforms could have the same effect, downing the Makhzen but I am not sure.
M6 has a much better chance to succeed because he is actually revered by his people, I am not sure that Bouteflika and the generals enjoy the same feeling from their folks.
M6 before any Arab autocrat was courageous to implement moudawana, freed political prisoners, compensated those who suffered from the years of led, and initiated the reconciliation, this allowed him to enjoy a huge popularity in and outside the kingdom, unfortunately and for mysterious reasons, he pushed the breaks and allowed Algeria to catch up, that was a big mistake that we are paying dearly for.
It is dilemma that only the 2 people are suffering from. Both leadership know that implementing real reforms will not be beneficial to them in the long run. People will eventually start asking for the downing of the Makhzen and for the butchers of North Africa.
I think M6 should gather his thoughts and go back to what made him successful at the beginning of his reign. He is very well respected by many including the enemies of Morocco. He's young , ambitious to get his people of poverty, unfortunately he deviated from what made him popular and loved by his subjects.
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