British MP Pushes UK Government to Recognize Morocco’s Sovereignty over Sahara

British Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski, on Tuesday in Rabat, urged the UK government to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara. “I have asked many questions within our own parliament […] as to when we will ultimately acknowledge Moroccan Sahara as being part of the Kingdom of Morocco,” Kawczynski told the press following talks between his delegation of British MPs and Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita. The British official also highlighted the privileged status that Morocco enjoys as an “extremely important ally” of the United Kingdom. He also reiterated the importance that the United Kingdom attaches to its partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco, praising the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to strengthen this partnership. This is not the first time a British MP calls for the full recognition of the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. Last Saturday, British House of Lords member Daniel Hannan also called for recognizing Morocco’s “full sovereignty” over its Sahara and strengthening trade relations between the two Kingdoms. For his part, British MP Liam Fox had sent a letter to Foreign Secretary David Cameron this January, emphasizing the importance of “a more proactive and favorable position from the United Kingdom” regarding the issue of the Moroccan Sahara.