The United Kingdom has formally backed Morocco’s proposal for Western Sahara, marking a major shift in its long-standing neutral position on one of Africa’s oldest territorial disputes.
The new support comes as part of a broader agreement tied to business investments ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal.
The UK had previously refrained from siding in the conflict, instead supporting a general principle of self-determination for the Sahrawi people. But during a visit to Rabat, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy declared that Morocco’s autonomy plan now has UK support. Under the proposal, Western Sahara would remain under Moroccan sovereignty while gaining limited self-rule.
Lammy described the plan as the most realistic path to resolving the decades-old conflict. In exchange for backing it, the UK secured opportunities for British firms to win contracts for key infrastructure projects linked to the upcoming World Cup. These include deals in healthcare and upgrades to Casablanca’s airport.
The Moroccan government welcomed the change in tone. Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said it marked a turning point in the historic relationship between the two nations. Morocco views the UK’s endorsement as a powerful message in favour of its claim to the disputed region.
Algeria, which supports the Polisario Front—a movement fighting for full independence for Western Sahara—criticised the UK’s decision. Algerian officials pointed out that Morocco’s autonomy offer dates back 18 years and has never been put before the Sahrawi people in a formal vote.
Western Sahara is a resource-rich territory that was once a Spanish colony. After Spain’s withdrawal in the mid-1970s, Morocco took control of much of the land. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, resisted the takeover, leading to years of armed conflict. Although fighting largely ceased in the 1990s, the dispute remains unresolved, and a promised United Nations referendum on the region’s status has yet to materialize.
The United Nations still considers Western Sahara a non-self-governing territory, and peacekeepers have been stationed there since 1991. Despite that, several nations—among them the United States, France, Germany, and Spain—have in recent years shifted their support toward Morocco’s autonomy plan.
British diplomats say the new deal was made with conditions. Morocco must renew its pledge to the principle of self-determination and update its autonomy proposal as a basis for future talks. The joint statement also underlined both countries’ commitment to peaceful conflict resolution.
While the announcement may help British businesses tap into lucrative construction and development contracts in Morocco, it also places the UK among a growing list of nations backing Morocco’s vision for Western Sahara. Still, the core question remains unresolved: whether the Sahrawi people will ever have a direct say in their future.