The United Nations (UN) has responded to French President Emmanuel Macron's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara. In a daily press briefing, the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General addressed a question about whether France's shift in position would «affect the UN's approach to the matter». «We've seen reports of the letter conveyed by the President of France to the King of Morocco regarding Western Sahara», said Stéphane Dujarric on Tuesday. «For our part, we will continue our efforts regarding Western Sahara in accordance with Security Council resolutions», he emphasized. In a letter to King Mohammed VI on Tuesday, Macron acknowledged that «the present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty» and emphasized that France would «act consistently with this position at both national and international levels». France is the second permanent member of the UN Security Council to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, following the United States, which announced its decision in 2020. France's new position on Western Sahara has been swiftly condemned by Algeria, even before President Macron's official announcement. Algiers has recalled its ambassador in Paris to protest the decision. Meanwhile, the European Union has stated that its position on Western Sahara remains unchanged, emphasizing that the solution to the territorial conflict must be «in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions».
