French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot appeared before the Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday, April 2. In response to a question from Jean-Paul Lecoq, a communist deputy known for his support of the Polisario, Barrot reaffirmed France's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, a decision officially announced on July 30, 2024. «A few months ago, we expressed our vision of the present and future of Western Sahara, which aligns with Moroccan sovereignty, in accordance with the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco. To date, there is no more realistic and credible solution», he stated. However, the minister emphasized that the conflict «must reach a durable and mutually acceptable political solution under the aegis of the United Nations. We support UN efforts towards this dialogue». Barrot also informed the deputies that he would discuss this issue «in a few days in Paris» with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita. The meeting, for which no date has been specified, comes at a pivotal moment, ahead of two key events: Barrot's visit to Algiers on April 6 and an informative session of the UN Security Council on April 14, dedicated to examining the Sahara issue.
