Morocco is celebrating a series of diplomatic victories on the Sahara issue, the latest of which is the US 2019 appropriation bill providing for extending the funds allocated to Morocco to the Sahara. The Polisario and its mentor Algeria have launched maneuvers aiming at undermining Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces by using the economic card. Since 2017, the polisario’s attempt at legally challenging Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara through challenging economic agreements have been foiled. Phosphates production and related industries, an area of excellence for Morocco, has been key in the Kingdom’s African foreign policy. Phosphate revenues have also contributed to the development of the southern provinces where Morocco spends seven times more than the revenues reaped from the region.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 17, 2019 13:52 UTC