HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Barka
In the context of the Kingdom of Morocco's efforts to find a final and sustainable solution to the Sahara conflict, the Moroccan initiative for autonomy has emerged as an integrated political framework that combines the principle of national sovereignty and the requirements of international consensus, offering a realistic vision that achieves development, reconciliation, and consolidates national integration in the southern regions.
A consensual political solution under UN auspices
The initiative is based on a firm conviction in the Kingdom of Morocco that the settlement of the conflict can only be political, based on dialogue and understanding under the supervision of the United Nations, putting an end to the stalemate that has characterized the file for decades.
This vision aims to build a comprehensive reconciliation between the people of the region and the state, by consolidating trust, openness, and coexistence within the framework of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom.
Expanded powers to manage local affairs
The initiative proposes to grant the residents of the southern regions broad powers to manage their affairs through elected legislative, executive, and judicial institutions, enabling them to manage vital areas such as internal security, economic development, management of natural resources, infrastructure, education, health, and housing, in addition to promoting the authentic Hassani culture.
It also guarantees the region independent financial resources, including local revenues and allocations from the state budget, within the framework of national solidarity that enhances sustainable development and allows the region to fully integrate into the national economy.
Precise balance between the region and the central state
In return for this wide delegation, the state retains its sovereign powers in the areas of national defense, external security, international relations, and national symbols. The King, in his capacity as Commander of the Faithful, continues to perform his religious and constitutional duties, in a way that preserves the unity of the state and its institutions.
To ensure coordination between the national and regional levels, the initiative stipulates the appointment of a government representative within the region to represent the state and oversee the implementation of its exclusive powers.
Democratic structures and independent regional institutions
The autonomy system consists of an elected regional parliament that represents the residents of the southern regions and the Sahrawi tribes, with the guarantee of women's representation. This parliament chooses the head of the regional government who oversees the management of local affairs and the implementation of development programs. The judicial authority includes regional courts that issue their rulings in the name of the King, and a regional high court specialized in interpreting local laws, while preserving the unity and independence of the national judicial system.
Constitutional guarantees and respect for human rights
The initiative affirmed Morocco's commitment to guaranteeing the rights and freedoms guaranteed constitutionally and internationally, including respecting human rights as they are internationally recognized.
It also provides for the establishment of economic and social councils to enhance participation in the preparation of development policies, and confirms that the autonomy system will be the subject of a free referendum in which the people of the Sahara will participate, in accordance with the principles of self-determination and the United Nations Charter.
National reconciliation and safe return
In a humanitarian dimension, the initiative includes the Kingdom's commitment to issuing a comprehensive amnesty that includes all those concerned with the conflict and the residents of the camps in Tindouf, enabling them to return to their homeland in dignity and security.
The project proposes the establishment of a transitional council to manage the return, disarmament, and reintegration process, under the supervision of the concerned parties, to ensure a smooth transition towards a new phase dominated by stability.
A call for dialogue and building a common future
The initiative concludes with an explicit call to all parties to seize the "historic opportunity" it provides, as a serious and realistic proposal to overcome the political stalemate.
The Kingdom believes that this solution is not only important for the southern regions, but also constitutes a lever to enhance regional stability and revive cooperation between the countries of the Maghreb, which serves development and security in the region as a whole.
