In exchange, the U.S. would not oppose the kingdom’s grip on Western Sahara and support Morocco’s relationship with Israel. “The aim was to break the silence on the Western Sahara,” explained Mr. Fletcher, who is also co-coordinator of the Campaign to End the Moroccan Occupation of the Western Sahara. Morocco now opposes African Union involvement in Western Sahara and has lobbied for other countries to support the kingdom’s position. However, the real reason for keeping the Western Sahara may lie in the area’s rich natural resources. The Western Sahara U.S Geological Survey says the area holds over 72 percent of all phosphate rock reserves used to make organic fertilizer worldwide.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 16, 2021 15:55 UTC