The Moroccan Sahara and the Autonomy Initiative: Territorial Governance, Sustainable Development and Regional Stability

Publication Date: February 12, 2026
Section: International Analysis
Journal: Opiniones a Juicio (ISSN)

Introduction

The Moroccan Sahara remains one of the most strategically sensitive issues in North Africa, situated at the intersection of international law, regional security, and political economy. Far from being a purely territorial matter, it encompasses questions of self-determination, multilevel governance, resource management, and geopolitical stability.

The recent International Seminar on The Moroccan Sahara and the Autonomy Initiative provided an academic platform to examine the autonomy proposal within broader frameworks of territorial governance, sustainable development, and preventive regional stability.

I. International Law and the United Nations Framework

Within the United Nations system, the Security Council has consistently emphasized the need for a “realistic, pragmatic, and mutually acceptable political solution.” In recent years, the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative has been described as serious and credible within diplomatic discourse.

The October 2025 reaffirmation by the Security Council further consolidated the autonomy framework as the structural basis for a political resolution process. This development marks a significant evolution in diplomatic language, strengthening the governance-oriented approach under Moroccan sovereignty.

Comparative conflict-resolution doctrine suggests that autonomy models may function as intermediate institutional arrangements between full independence and centralized governance, provided they ensure:

• Effective democratic participation
• Institutional guarantees
• Protection of human rights
• Administrative clarity and fiscal sustainability

II. African Regionalism and Sahel Stability

The broader African regional context is indispensable to understanding the issue. The Sahel region currently faces structural instability driven by terrorism, fragile state institutions, transnational criminal networks, and geopolitical competition.

In such an environment, territorial governance models acquire strategic importance. The autonomy initiative has been analyzed as a potential stabilizing mechanism capable of:

• Reducing structural tensions
• Strengthening local governance
• Enhancing regional economic integration

However, long-term stability depends not only on normative design but also on legitimacy, institutional capacity, and regional cooperation.

III. Comparative Autonomy Models

Comparative experiences provide relevant analytical references, including:

• South Tyrol (Italy)
• Greenland (Denmark)
• Scotland (United Kingdom)
• Spain’s autonomous communities

These cases demonstrate that territorial autonomy within sovereign states can accommodate cultural specificity, decentralized governance, and fiscal competencies while preserving national unity.

The decisive factor remains institutional clarity and effective implementation.

IV. Sustainable Development and Strategic Resources

The Moroccan Sahara holds significant geoeconomic relevance. The region’s renewable energy potential (solar and wind), phosphate reserves, and port infrastructure position it as a strategic node in global supply chains.

Discussions during the seminar emphasized alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly regarding:

• Energy transition
• Food security (phosphate-based fertilizers)
• Sustainable regional development
• South–South cooperation

The event reached approximately 42,000 Facebook views, reflecting growing interest in Latin America and North Africa regarding governance and regional security debates Informe del Seminario Internaci….

V. Structural Challenges and Political Sensitivities

Any autonomy framework faces inherent challenges:

• Local legitimacy consolidation
• Balancing decentralization and sovereignty
• External geopolitical pressures
• Long-standing historical narratives

Preventive governance requires sustained institutional trust and political continuity.

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Conclusion

The Moroccan Sahara represents a contemporary laboratory where international law, regional security architecture, and sustainable development converge. Analytical rigor is essential to move beyond binary narratives and toward structured, evidence-based understanding.

Academic diplomacy and scientific dissemination play a critical role in elevating public debate, particularly in interregional contexts linking Latin America and Africa.