The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has awarded the decoration of the Legion of Merit with the rank of commander-in-chief to the King of Morocco, Mohamed VI, for the historic recognition of Israel by the Maghreb country.
“His vision and personal courage, including his decision to resume relations with the State of Israel, has positively reshaped the landscape of the Middle East and North Africa and has ushered in a new era of security and prosperity for both countries and the entire world. “, highlights the official statement from the White House.
Washington emphasizes that it is “a rare and prestigious decoration that can only be approved by the president, usually for heads of state or government of other countries.”
“In the more than two decades of his leadership, King Mohamed VI has promoted the deep and lasting partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States in all areas,” the statement underlined.
The Moroccan Ambassador to the United States, Princess Lalla Yumala has been commissioned to receive the decoration on behalf of the Moroccan King in a private ceremony.
This Friday there was also a Ministerial Conference in Support of the Initiative of Autonomy for the Moroccan Sahara, a telematic event in which 40 countries have participated, 27 of them represented at the ministerial level, and jointly organized by the United States and Morocco.
“Participants have expressed their strong support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to this regional dispute,” the final statement highlights. In addition, 20 countries have announced their commitment to open consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla, in Western Sahara.
FORMER SPANISH COLONY
The former Spanish colony of Western Sahara was occupied by Morocco in 1975 despite resistance from the Polisario Front, with whom it remained at war until 1991, when both parties signed a ceasefire with a view to holding a referendum on self-determination, but the differences on the elaboration of the census and the inclusion or not of the Moroccan settlers has so far prevented its convocation.
On November 14, the Polisario Front declared the ceasefire with Morocco broken in response to a Moroccan military action against Sahrawi activists in Guerguerat, in the agreed demilitarized zone, which meant for the Sahrawis a violation of the conditions of the ceasefire. the fire.
A few days later, on December 10, the United States published its declaration of Recognition of the Sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over Western Sahara, reciprocated by Rabat with the recognition of Israel.
