DIPLOMACY
Claims of African Resistance to Morocco Dismissed as Misleading
Recent claims suggesting that Africa is broadly opposed to Morocco have been dismissed by observers as misleading and unsupported by diplomatic or political realities, amid growing concerns over what is being described as a coordinated disinformation campaign.
The narrative, which has gained traction on social media platforms and in certain media circles in recent weeks, portrays Morocco as facing widespread continental hostility. However, analysts say this portrayal does not reflect any collective African position and is instead the result of an organised effort driven by identifiable actors.
According to multiple assessments, the campaign does not originate from Africa as a whole. Rather, it can be traced largely to a single country, with the involvement of an isolated actor based in Egypt. Efforts to present these limited positions as representative of the African continent have been described as a deliberate distortion.
Observers note that the tactics employed follow a familiar pattern. Fake social media accounts and coordinated digital networks are reportedly activated to amplify messages, creating the impression of widespread opposition and mass mobilisation against Morocco. This strategy, they say, is designed to manufacture consensus where none exists.
Diplomatic sources point out that the online narrative stands in sharp contrast to Morocco’s extensive political, economic and cultural ties across Africa, as well as its active participation in continental institutions and partnerships. They argue that relations between Morocco and many African states remain stable and cooperative, undermining claims of continental hostility.
Analysts also caution against emotional or defensive responses to the campaign. Instead, they suggest that the focus should be on identifying the origins of the disinformation, exposing its methods and clearly distinguishing between isolated antagonism and Africa’s broader diplomatic landscape.
“The issue is not about repeatedly asserting Morocco’s African identity,” one observer said. “It is about naming the sources of this campaign and challenging the false impression that Africa is united in opposition to Morocco.”
As scrutiny of online influence operations intensifies, the emerging consensus among analysts is that the hostility being projected is artificial, limited in scope and disconnected from Africa’s wider political reality.
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DIPLOMACY
Spain Welcomes UN Resolution Backing Moroccan Autonomy as “Most Feasible Solution” to Sahara Issue
Spain has welcomed United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797, which reiterates that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty represents the most realistic basis for resolving the Sahara dispute, describing the development as fully aligned with the international roadmap on the issue.
In a statement adopted on Thursday at the conclusion of the 13th High-Level Meeting between Morocco and Spain, held in Madrid, the Spanish government praised the text of Resolution 2797, adopted by the UN Security Council on 31 October 2025, noting that it strengthens support for Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative and confirms its position at the centre of negotiations.
Spain reaffirmed the “constant and constructive position” set out in the Joint Declaration of 7 April 2022, issued following discussions between Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and His Majesty King Mohammed VI. That declaration marked a turning point in relations between Rabat and Madrid, with Spain formally recognising the Moroccan autonomy proposal as the “most serious, realistic and credible” basis for settlement.
In Thursday’s statement, Spain also expressed satisfaction that the latest UN development “fully supports the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Envoy to facilitate and conduct negotiations based on the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco.”
The renewed support underscores Spain’s active backing for the current UN approach, which places Morocco’s proposal at the heart of diplomatic efforts to reach a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.
The 13th High-Level Meeting further consolidates the strategic partnership between the two neighbouring kingdoms, whose relations have strengthened significantly over the past three years through cooperation on security, migration, economic ties and regional stability.
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In a significant boost to Morocco’s diplomatic momentum on the Sahara issue, the Netherlands has formally reaffirmed its support for the Kingdom’s Autonomy Plan, describing “genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty” as the most feasible solution to resolving the long-standing regional dispute.
The position was articulated in a Joint Declaration issued on Friday following a meeting in The Hague between Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, and Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Asylum and Migration, David Van Weel.
The declaration aligns the Netherlands with a growing number of international actors who recognise Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative—first proposed in 2007—as a credible basis for negotiation under United Nations auspices.
According to the communiqué, the Netherlands not only supports the Autonomy Plan but also welcomes the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which reinforces the UN-led political process. The Dutch government expressed full support for the efforts of the UNSecretary-General and his Personal Envoy in facilitating negotiations grounded in the Moroccan proposal.
Both ministers underlined that the objective remains a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, as consistently urged by successive Security Council resolutions.
The reiteration of Dutch support comes amid what Moroccan officials describe as growing “international momentum” behind the autonomy framework—momentum developed under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, whose diplomatic engagements have strengthened Morocco’s position on the global stage.
Friday’s meeting also forms part of ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation between Morocco and the Netherlands, particularly in political dialogue, migration management and regional security.
With this renewed endorsement from The Hague, Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative continues to gain traction as the leading path toward settling one of the longest-running disputes in North Africa.
Portugal’s soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday attended a White House meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Trump is hosting the Saudi de facto ruler as the latter seeks to rehabilitate his global image after the 2018 killing of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi and deepen ties with Washington.
Ronaldo, who has scored over 950 goals for club and country, is contracted to play for the Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr until 2027, which is majority owned by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund.
-Reuters
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