Westsahara

France shifts Western Sahara stance, seeking closer ties with Morocco

France has backed Morocco’s autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara, shifting a decades-old position and adding itself to a growing list of countries to align with Morocco as a United Nations-mediated peace process remains stalled.

Soccer jersey dispute between Algeria and Morocco clubs over Western Sahara goes to sports court

Morocco intercepts a boat with 141 people as African migrants increasingly attempt to reach Spain

A UN envoy has made his first visit to Western Sahara. He pledged to advance the political process

Moroccan senate president delays historic trip to Israel due to illness and says he will return

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Moroccan navy recovers bodies of 5 Senegalese migrants whose boat capsized and rescues 189 others

The Moroccan navy has recovered the bodies of five Senegalese migrants and rescued 189 others after their boat capsized off the coast of Western Sahara.

Israel recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara

Israel says it’s recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, joining the U.S. as the only countries to acknowledge the kingdom’s annexation of the disputed north African territory.

Morocco threatens to skip African soccer tournament

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — After its sensational World Cup performance, Morocco’s national soccer team might boycott the African Nations Championship next month because of a diplomatic dispute with tournament host Algeria.

Morocco World Cup wins stir mixed feelings in Western Sahara

The Moroccan soccer team’s history-making successes at the World Cup are stirring mixed emotions in the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

UN urges revival of negotiations on disputed Western Sahara

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council called for a revival of U.N-led negotiations on the disputed Western Sahara in a resolution adopted Thursday that expressed “deep concern” at the breakdown of the 1991 cease-fire between Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front whose decades-ol

Reluctant Algeria invites rival Morocco to Arab League meet

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Under apparent pressure from other Arab powers, Algeria on Tuesday invited its neighbor and rival Morocco to an Arab League summit it’s hosting in Algiers in November.

Morocco accused of blocking UN visit to Western Sahara

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The pro-independence Polisario Front accused Morocco of obstructing a visit by the U.N. envoy for the disputed Western Sahara region and called on the United Nations to reveal the reasons why.

Spain: Algeria’s ties with Russia behind row with Madrid

Spain’s economy minister has linked Algeria´s decision to suspend a decades-old friendship treaty with Spain with what she said is the North African country’s increasing alignment with Russia.

EU urges Algeria to restore friendship treaty with Spain

The European Union is urging Algeria to reverse its decision to suspend a two-decade-old friendship treaty with Spain.

New blow: Algeria ends 2-decade friendship treaty with Spain

Algeria has announced it is “immediately” suspending a two-decades-old friendship treaty with Spain.

Spain, Morocco to open land borders next week after 2 years

MADRID (AP) — The land borders between Morocco and Spain’s North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla will reopen next week, Spain said Thursday, after being closed for more than two years due to COVID-19 restrictions and tensions between the two countries.

Spain PM in Morocco to mend ties after Western Sahara shift

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has met with Moroccan King Mohammed VI on a visit to Rabat seeking to mark the end of diplomatic tensions centered on Morocco’s disputed region of Western Sahara.

Blinken urges Algeria re-think on Russia, Western Sahara

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a three-nation tour of the Middle East and North Africa Wednesday with appeals for Algeria to limit ties with Russia and look to improve relations with neighboring Morocco.

Spain’s ‘U-turn’ on W. Sahara sends ambassadors in and out

Morocco has reinstated its ambassador to Spain, effectively ending a 10-month row between the two key Mediterranean neighbors after Madrid shifted its long-standing position on Western Sahara, its former colony in North Africa.

Spain changes stance, backs Moroccan rule in Western Sahara

Spain has declared the beginning of “a new stage” in its strained relations with Morocco. The Spanish prime minister has written to the Moroccan king, agreeing that having Western Sahara operate autonomously under Rabat’s rule is “the most serious, realistic and credible” initiative for resolving a

UN envoy visits Western Sahara camps in new peace push

The U.N. envoy for the disputed Western Sahara has visited refugee camps in Algeria housing those displaced by fighting decades ago.

UN envoy starts new effort to broker deal on Western Sahara

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — A United Nations diplomat newly tasked with reviving stalled negotiations for a settlement to the decades-old Western Sahara conflict met with Moroccan officials Thursday during his first visit to the region.

Morocco ready to restore diplomatic ties with Germany

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco says it is ready to restore diplomatic cooperation with Germany, apparently thanks to a perceived shift in position toward the disputed Western Sahara.

Algeria accuses Moroccan forces of killing 3, amid tensions

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — The Algerian president’s office said Wednesday that three Algerians were killed by a military strike on their trucks, and it accused Moroccan forces in the disputed Western Sahara of being behind the attack.

UN urges talks on Western Sahara after cease-fire breakdown

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council extended the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the disputed Western Sahara for a year on Friday, expressing concern at the breakdown of the 1991 cease-fire between Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front and calling for a revival of U.N.

Youth yearning for independence fuel Western Sahara clashes

MAHBAS REGION, Western Sahara (AP) — As a glowing sun sank behind the sandy barrier that cuts across the disputed territory of Western Sahara, Sidati Ahmed’s battalion launched two missiles that sizzled through the air and then followed with an artillery attack.

Independence leader: Wall won’t stop Western Sahara fight

The leader of the Western Sahara independence movement says that fighting with Morocco will continue across a long wall cutting through Africa’s vast desert until the international community delivers on an unfulfilled promise of self-determination for the Saharawi people.

Court annuls EU-Morocco deals over Western Sahara policies

The European Union’s general court has annulled the 27-country bloc’s approval of agriculture and fishing agreements that allow Morocco to exports goods from Western Sahara.

42 migrants feared dead as boat capsizes off Western Sahara

A Spanish activist says 42 migrants, including 30 women and eight children, are believed to have died when their boat capsized in rough seas shortly after departing the coastal town of Dakhla, in Western Sahara.

Spanish judge tosses out suit against Polisario Front leader

A Spanish judge has thrown out a lawsuit against the leader of a movement seeking independence of Western Sahara from Morocco that accused him of torture, genocide and other crimes.

Western Sahara independence chief leaves Spain for Algeria

The leader of a movement seeking independence from Morocco who is at the center of a diplomatic row between Rabat and Madrid has flown out of Spain to Algeria.

Western Sahara independence chief testifies in Spanish court

The leader of a movement seeking independence from Morocco has testified in a Spanish investigation into allegations against him of torture, genocide and other crimes.

Morocco says rift with Spain about ‘broken’ trust, respect

In a deepening diplomatic rift with Spain, Morocco’s Foreign Ministry says the crisis between the two countries was “about trust and mutual respect that has been broken.”

Aide: Western Sahara movement leader to testify in Spain

The leader of the Western Sahara independence movement at the heart of a diplomatic spat between Spain and Morocco, will appear before an investigating judge in Spain on June 1.

Spain offers to speak for Morocco at EU amid migration spat

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says that Spain is an ally of Morocco, and Madrid will defend both countries’ common interests at the European Union.