Brussels – Morocco’s initiative to grant autonomy to its southern provinces, the Sahara, is the most realistic solution to the regional conflict, geopolitical expert Antonin Tisseron said. Tisseron, a researcher at the Brussels-based Thomas More Institute, stressed the need for Maghreban integration, which, he said, is hindered by the Sahara issue.
He added in an article published on Thursday by the French Daily “Le Figaro”, that this conflict persists despite Morocco’s 2007 proposal to grant autonomy for the Sahara within the framework of the Kingdom’s regionalisation plan.
The researcher said the autonomy initiative takes into account Morocco’s territorial integrity, the aspirations of the Sahraoui population, and the humanitarian situation in Tindouf camps.
On the Maghreb, the pundit pointed out to the recent political development in the region against the backdrop of the Arab Spring.
He said the countries of the region are called upon to combine efforts with a view to achieving integration amid looming concerns over economic slowdown.
Tisseron warned that the Maghreb may see growing criminal activity and radical rhetoric if inequalities were not reduced and peoples’ aspirations were not met.
