Participants in the 2nd Policy Conference of the Coalition for Autonomy in the Sahara (AUSACO), held Tuesday in Dakhla, called for a redefinition of the United Nations’ approach to the Moroccan Sahara dispute, citing shifting geopolitical dynamics.
In the Final Declaration, known as the “Dakhla Declaration,” AUSACO members urged a reassessment of the issue’s parameters, emphasizing Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only credible and realistic basis for a political solution.
They also pointed to growing international support for Morocco’s sovereignty claims and underscored Algeria’s role in prolonging the conflict.
The Declaration welcomed Morocco’s development efforts under the New Development Model for the Southern Provinces, positioning the region as a strategic hub linking Morocco to Africa and beyond.
Participants also praised initiatives led by HM King Mohammed VI, including the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, the Royal Atlantic Initiative, and development plans for the Atlantic coast, describing them as part of a broader vision to establish the Sahara as a center for regional stability and cooperation.
AUSACO members noted the climate of peace and development in the southern provinces, citing the opening of 32 consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla as evidence of growing international recognition of Moroccan sovereignty.
They also reiterated support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and called on more countries to endorse the autonomy plan, while urging Algeria to engage constructively in the UN process and ensure respect for humanitarian law in the Tindouf camps.
The conference was marked by the participation of elected officials from Morocco’s southern regions, Sahrawi tribal leaders, and civil society representatives.
AUSACO is an independent organization of over 3,000 figures from political, diplomatic, academic, and legal circles advocating for Morocco’s autonomy initiative as the only viable solution to the long-standing dispute.
MAP: 29 avril 2025
