Morocco accepts Western Sahara plan

25 years on - Western Sahara remains a disputed land

By David Bamford in Rabat

The Moroccan Government has agreed to a United Nations plan proposing autonomy to the disputed Western Sahara as a basis for negotiations on a final settlement in the 26-year-old conflict.

Moroccan state media have emphasised that the government in Rabat still does not adhere to all the terms on offer, but accepts the plan as a framework for discussion.

Its rival in the territory, the Polisario Independence Movement, has angrily rejected the plan and has threatened to go back to war.

The plan was drawn up by UN special envoy James Baker

The contrast in reactions is hardly surprising given that the plan concedes much to Morocco, and gives little away to the Sahrawi nationalist movement led by the Polisario Front.

Put together by the UN secretary-general's special envoy to the Western Sahara, James Baker, the plan would see Morocco guaranteed sovereignty over the territory for four years, including Moroccan control of internal security and the judicial system.

Limited autonomy

In exchange, the Sahrawi population will be given some leeway in controlling their own economic and social affairs.

Polisario say they keep people in tents to give them hope of return

The UN was hoping that Polisario would be encouraged by a provision stating that at the end of four years a vote could be held on how the population wishes to go forward.

But Polisario has rejected this, saying that by this time the population will have already been forcibly assimilated by the Moroccans.

Currently, Polisario maintains a tight political control over the 160,000 Sahrawi refugees in camps across the border in Algeria.

It would be unlikely to willingly give that up by allowing the refugees to return to a territory still controlled by Morocco.

It is difficult to see where this process could go during the five months being allocated to Mr Baker to bring all sides round to a common plan.