Several African countries have also acted against the official position of the African Union, of which SADR is a founding member, to open consulates in Western Sahara. https://www.politico.com/.../24/pompeo-us-consulate-western-sahara-450371 The Trump administration digs its heels into its controversial position on the Moroccan-claimed territory. The consulate will be opened by the Moroccan and Senegalese foreign ministers in the Atlantic city of Dakhla, making Senegal the 22nd nation to establish a diplomatic mission in the territory, the sources said. The new Congolese consulate joins 18 already established consulates in the Western Sahara. US launches work on consulate in disputed Western Sahara The US Ambassador to Morocco, David Fischer (L), and David Schenker, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, pose wearing traditional robes in the disputed territory of Western Sahara on Sunday DAKHLA, Western Sahara (AP) — Trawlers pack the bustling Western Saharan port of Dakhla, where fish scales glisten from workers’ arms as they roll up their nets and buyers shout bids in a sprawling auction warehouse. Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until the mid-1970s, when Morocco invaded and established de facto control over most of the area lasting until the present day. Ned Price, a spokesman for the Biden transition team, declined to weigh in on the issue. Although Mauritania abandoned its claim in 1979, Morocco still occupies about two-thirds of the territory. Prior to the Israel-Morocco deal, the U.S. policy toward the territory was in line with the European Union, United Nations and African Union in calling for a path for self-determination for the territory. While the consulate isn’t expected to open for another six to 12 months, Schenker's trip is a way for the U.S. to cement its commitment to Western Sahara … Some 15 African states have also opened consulates in Western Sahara. Jordan today opened a consulate in the disputed Western Sahara region, according to Moroccan media reports. "We look forward to promoting economic and social development, and to engage the people of this region.". While the consulate isn’t expected to open for another six to 12 months, Schenker’s trip is a way for the U.S. to cement its commitment to Western Sahara … Citing official sources, Moroccan media reported Senegal is set to open a consulate general in Dakhla , the second most populated city in Western Sahara, on Monday. The inauguration will be attended by senior diplomats, members of local authorities, as well as … Consistent with President Trump’s proclamation on recognizing the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over the Western Sahara, the State Department announces that it has begun the process to establish a U.S. consulate in the region. Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Comoros, Gabon, Sao Tome and Príncipe, Central African Republic and Burundi all opened missions in the region. Fighting could intensify absent outside help. While the consulate isn’t expected to open for another six to 12 months, Schenker's trip is a way for the U.S. to cement its commitment to Western Sahara … The UN does not recognise Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony, parts of which were annexed by Morocco and Mauritania in the mid 1970s. Some 15 African states have also opened consulates in Western Sahara. Pompeo tweeted Thursday afternoon. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's announcement comes after President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would recognize Morocco's long-held claims over the former Spanish territory. ", He pointed out that "all regions of the African continent are represented by the Sahara through six countries from the west of the continent, five from its centre, in addition to three countries from the south of the continent and a country from East Africa.". Morocco has controlled Western Sahara since … Clashes have broken out in Western Sahara, ending a 30-year ceasefire between Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front. For decades, the United Nations has sponsored efforts to find a political solution to end the conflict. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) called the agreement "shocking and deeply disappointing.". To facilitate progress toward this aim, the United States will encourage economic and social development with Morocco, including in the Western Sahara territory, and to that end will open a consulate in the Western Sahara territory, in Dakhla, to promote economic and … RABAT (Reuters) - Senegal will open a consulate in Western Sahara on Monday, joining other African and Arab countries in supporting Morocco’s claim to … RABAT, April 3 (Reuters) - Senegal will open a consulate in Western Sahara on Monday, joining other African and Arab countries in supporting Morocco's claim … The statement said that King Mohammed VI made a phone call Tuesday to the Crown Prince of the. The consulate would be in the Western Sahara’s largest city, Laayoune, and the decision to open it came after a phone call between Moroccan King Mohammed VI and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the Royal Palace said. RABAT (Reuters) - Senegal will open a consulate in Western Sahara on Monday, joining other African and Arab countries in supporting Morocco's claim to … Morocco considers that the opening of foreign diplomatic representations in the region "is very important (…) and a legal sign that comes within the framework of the exchange of documents and the Vienna Treaty on consular relations," reported the Moroccan News Agency. The last UN envoy to the area resigned in May 2019 on health grounds and no successor has been appointed. The United States ambassador to Morocco began the process of establishing a consulate in the disputed territory of Western Sahara on Sunday, … The consulate will be located in Dakhla, a fishing port located in southern Western Sahara, intended to become a “regional maritime hub” serving Africa and the Canary Islands through a large development project launched by Rabat. Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony that extends over an area of 266,000 square kilometres, it witnessed an armed conflict until a ceasefire was declared in 1991 between Morocco, which annexed it in 1975, and the Polisario, which called for its independence, backed by Algeria. FILE - U.S. and Moroccan flags emblems are seen outside the provisional consulate of the U.S in Dakhla, Morocco-administered Western Sahara, Jan. 10, 2021. The announcement comes after President Donald Trump announced earlier this month the U.S. would recognize Morocco's long-held claims over the former Spanish territory as part of a normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel. The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that Zambia and the Kingdom of Eswatini opened consulates in the Western Sahara, bringing the … The USA begins consulate launch in disputed Western Sahara in spite of the United Nations-planned self-determination referendum for the region. The virtual diplomatic presence would be managed by the U.S. Embassy in Rabat and would focus on economic and social development, the State Department announced in a Thursday statement. The United States […] READ MORE Morocco, Israel normalise relations after US … The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that Zambia and the Kingdom of Eswatini opened consulates in the Western Sahara, bringing the total number of foreign missions in the region to 15. RABAT, MOROCCO - The United States on Sunday started the process of establishing a consulate in contested Western Sahara, after Washington recognized Morocco's … "The United States looks forward to this increased engagement and we will continue to support political negotiations to resolve the issues between Morocco and the POLISARIO within the framework of Morocco's autonomy plan," the State Department's Thursday statement said. Zambia and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) both opened theirs on Tuesday. The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday became the first Arab country to open a diplomatic mission in the Moroccan-controlled area of the disputed Western Sahara.. Rabat also announced this week that the UAE will become the first Arab country to open a diplomatic mission in the Morocco-controlled area. Morocco controls 80 per cent of the area. Algeria: Western Sahara conflict is a colonialism issue. October 30, 2020 at 3:32 pm | Published in: Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita attends a press briefing closing two days of talks on the Western Sahara on December 6, 2018 at the UN Offices in Geneva [FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images], Algeria-Morocco competition exposes the closed shop nature of influence within the AU. US plans to open a consulate in Western Sahara marks a turning point for the disputed territory. Former Secretary of State James Baker condemned the move last week as both an unnecessary break from the status quo and a potential source of conflict with strategic U.S. allies in the Mediterranean, particularly Algeria. The UN should fill its empty special envoy post, while the U.S. leads international efforts to restart diplomacy. The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday became the first Arab country to open a diplomatic mission in the Moroccan-controlled area of the disputed Western Sahara. U.S. plans to open a consulate in Western Sahara mark a turning point for the disputed and closely policed territory. An archway in the entrance of Dakhla carries an image of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, in Western Sahara, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. Zambia and Eswatini both opened theirs on Tuesday. The department plans on eventually establishing a full consulate in the region, but with President-elect Joe Biden taking over the White House in a matter of weeks, it's unclear how his administration would approach the issue. The inauguration of the consulate general in the northern coastal city of Laayoune brings to 16 the number of missions opened in the region since late last year. The U.S. will open a consulate in Western Sahara, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday, further solidifying the United States' recognition of Morocco's claim over the disputed territory. 1 min read RABAT (Reuters) - Senegal will open a consulate in Western Sahara on Monday, joining other African and Arab countries in … The UAE decided to open a consulate in Laayoune, according to a statement announced by the royal court on Tuesday night, which will be the first Arab diplomatic representation in the region. The city of Dahla alone now hosts diplomatic missions of … The Moroccan monarch welcomed this "important historic decision in support of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom". Israel has established ties with a number of Arab states in the final months of the Trump administration — agreements that the president's allies have heralded as a cornerstone of his foreign policy legacy. The Trump administration's recognition of Morocco's claim earlier this month quickly prompted raised eyebrows, from the international community to within his own party. U.S. plans to open a consulate in Western Sahara … Senegal will join the ever-growing list of countries with representations in Western Sahara. The opening ceremony of the consulate in Laayoune, the largest city of Western Sahara… "Pleased to announce the beginning of the process to establish a U.S. consulate in Western Sahara, and the inauguration of a virtual presence post effective immediately!" Nearby, turquoise waters lap wide, nearly empty Atlantic beaches and diners sip tea in sidewalk cafes. READ: Algeria-Morocco competition exposes the closed shop nature of influence within the AU. | Patrick Semansky, Pool/AP Photo. Morocco has been in a diplomatic stalemate with the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, whose Polisario Front retains control over a sliver of land hugging the Algerian border. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said during the opening ceremony that "the number of consulates in the Sahara reached 15, eight among them are in Laayoune and seven in Dakhla. An archway in the entrance of Dakhla carries an image of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, in Western Sahara, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. Western Sahara itself in total counts near 12 Embassies and 1 Consulates spread all over the world. Announcement of New Virtual Presence Post for Western Sahara.