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The Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal is an initiative proposed by Morocco in 2006 as a possible solution to the Western Sahara conflict. In 2006, the Moroccan Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs (CORCAS) proposed a plan[1] for the autonomy of Western Sahara and made visits to a number of countries to explain the proposal. The Spanish approach to regional autonomy has been named as a possible model for Western Saharan autonomy, mentioning specifically the cases of the Canary Islands, the Basque Country, Andalusia, or Catalonia. The plan was presented to the UN Security Council in April 2007[2] and received the backing of the United States and France.[3] This initiative constituted the main ground for the Moroccan proposal at the Manhasset negotiations.
The proposal was following the two failed proposals of the Baker Plan, which insisted on an independence referendum for Western Sahara after five years of autonomy; the plan was rejected by Morocco. A proposal was also published by Polisario to the UN on 10 April 2007, a day before the Moroccan proposal. The UN Security Council unanimously voted for Resolution 1754 on 30 April 2007 calling for talks of both parties, appreciating the proposal of Morocco and taking note of Polisario's proposal. Based on the proposal, there were four UN-sponsored peace talks between delegations of Polisario and Morocco on 18–19 June 2007, 10–11 August 2007, 7–9 January 2008, and 18–19 March 2008, all of which were held in Manhasset, New York.
- ^ Sahel, El Mostafa (11 April 2007). "Letter dated 11 April 2007 from the Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council". United Nations Security Council. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ Ban, Ki-moon (13 April 2007). Report of the Secretary-General on the Situation Concerning Western Sahara (Report). United Nations Security Council. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
- ^ "UN Security Council delays vote on W. Sahara". Reuters Africa. 27 April 2007. Archived from the original on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2024.