Mohammedia – Morocco, Algeria, and the Polisario Front are due to hold closed-door talks in Madrid on Sunday as part of a US-led push to move the Western Sahara file forward, according to diplomatic sources cited by Spanish media.
The meeting, expected to take place at the US Embassy in the Spanish capital, will also include Mauritania and the United Nations’ special envoy for the Sahara. The discussions are said to be organized under the supervision of representatives of the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has stepped up its involvement in the issue in recent weeks.
Rabat is entering the talks with a significantly expanded autonomy proposal, described by sources as a detailed document of around 40 pages. This updated version of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan reportedly lays out clearer institutional arrangements and governance mechanisms for the southern provinces, building on Morocco’s long-standing autonomy initiative.
The revised proposal was prepared by senior officials and advisers and is intended to strengthen Morocco’s position at a moment when Washington is pressing for progress.
US diplomacy is pushing negotiations to remain within the framework of recent UN Security Council resolutions, which describe the Moroccan autonomy plan as a serious and credible basis for a political solution.
Algeria and the Polisario Front continue to formally support the option of self-determination. However, US officials involved in the process are seeking to accelerate discussions. They view the issue as a priority file that has remained unresolved for decades.
For Morocco, the talks carry both political and diplomatic weight. Rabat aims to consolidate growing international support for its autonomy initiative while also addressing the future role of the UN mission in the Sahara.
MINURSO’s mandate is set to expire later this year, and the mission has faced increasing financial and operational constraints. The referendum initially envisioned in the early 1990s is widely viewed by diplomats as no longer feasible.
The negotiations come at a time when Morocco points to a favorable international context, citing explicit support for its position from key partners, including the United States and France, as well as backing from the European Union.
Washington chose Madrid to host the talks for practical reasons, sources have indicated, noting that Spanish authorities were not involved in the preparation of the talks.
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