While the consulate isn’t expected to open for another six to 12 months, Schenker's trip is a way for the U.S. to cement its commitment to Western Sahara … The new Congolese consulate joins 18 already established consulates in the Western Sahara. The inauguration of the consulate general in the northern coastal city of Laayoune brings to 16 the number of missions opened in the region since late last year. Pompeo tweeted Thursday afternoon. The United States […] The consulate will be located in Dakhla, a fishing port located in southern Western Sahara, intended to become a “regional maritime hub” serving Africa and the Canary Islands through a large development project launched by Rabat. The consulate would be in the Western Sahara’s largest city, Laayoune, and the decision to open it came after a phone call between Moroccan King Mohammed VI and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the Royal Palace said. The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that Zambia and the Kingdom of Eswatini opened consulates in the Western Sahara, bringing the … Israel has established ties with a number of Arab states in the final months of the Trump administration — agreements that the president's allies have heralded as a cornerstone of his foreign policy legacy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The announcement comes after President Donald Trump announced earlier this month the U.S. would recognize Morocco's long-held claims over the former Spanish territory as part of a normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel. The virtual diplomatic presence would be managed by the U.S. Embassy in Rabat and would focus on economic and social development, the State Department announced in a Thursday statement. RABAT, April 3 (Reuters) - Senegal will open a consulate in Western Sahara on Monday, joining other African and Arab countries in supporting Morocco's claim … "The United States looks forward to this increased engagement and we will continue to support political negotiations to resolve the issues between Morocco and the POLISARIO within the framework of Morocco's autonomy plan," the State Department's Thursday statement said. DAKHLA, Western Sahara (AP) — Trawlers pack the bustling Western Saharan port of Dakhla, where fish scales glisten from workers’ arms as they roll up their nets and buyers shout bids in a sprawling auction warehouse. Morocco has controlled Western Sahara since … RABAT, MOROCCO - The United States on Sunday started the process of establishing a consulate in contested Western Sahara, after Washington recognized Morocco's … Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said during the opening ceremony that "the number of consulates in the Sahara reached 15, eight among them are in Laayoune and seven in Dakhla. RABAT (Reuters) - Senegal will open a consulate in Western Sahara on Monday, joining other African and Arab countries in supporting Morocco's claim to … An archway in the entrance of Dakhla carries an image of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, in Western Sahara, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. https://www.politico.com/.../24/pompeo-us-consulate-western-sahara-450371 Algeria: Western Sahara conflict is a colonialism issue. The last UN envoy to the area resigned in May 2019 on health grounds and no successor has been appointed. The Moroccan monarch welcomed this "important historic decision in support of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom". The United States ambassador to Morocco began the process of establishing a consulate in the disputed territory of Western Sahara on Sunday, … The department plans on eventually establishing a full consulate in the region, but with President-elect Joe Biden taking over the White House in a matter of weeks, it's unclear how his administration would approach the issue. The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday became the first Arab country to open a diplomatic mission in the Moroccan-controlled area of the disputed Western Sahara. While the consulate isn’t expected to open for another six to 12 months, Schenker’s trip is a way for the U.S. to cement its commitment to Western Sahara … The statement said that King Mohammed VI made a phone call Tuesday to the Crown Prince of the. An archway in the entrance of Dakhla carries an image of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, in Western Sahara, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. Senegal will join the ever-growing list of countries with representations in Western Sahara. U.S. plans to open a consulate in Western Sahara … 1 min read RABAT (Reuters) - Senegal will open a consulate in Western Sahara on Monday, joining other African and Arab countries in … US plans to open a consulate in Western Sahara marks a turning point for the disputed territory. Zambia and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) both opened theirs on Tuesday. "We look forward to promoting economic and social development, and to engage the people of this region.". Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony, parts of which were annexed by Morocco and Mauritania in the mid 1970s. The city of Dahla alone now hosts diplomatic missions of … RABAT (Reuters) - Senegal will open a consulate in Western Sahara on Monday, joining other African and Arab countries in supporting Morocco’s claim to … READ: Algeria-Morocco competition exposes the closed shop nature of influence within the AU. Jordan today opened a consulate in the disputed Western Sahara region, according to Moroccan media reports. The opening ceremony of the consulate in Laayoune, the largest city of Western Sahara… The UAE decided to open a consulate in Laayoune, according to a statement announced by the royal court on Tuesday night, which will be the first Arab diplomatic representation in the region. Prior to the Israel-Morocco deal, the U.S. policy toward the territory was in line with the European Union, United Nations and African Union in calling for a path for self-determination for the territory. "Pleased to announce the beginning of the process to establish a U.S. consulate in Western Sahara, and the inauguration of a virtual presence post effective immediately!" Rabat also announced this week that the UAE will become the first Arab country to open a diplomatic mission in the Morocco-controlled area. The U.S. will open a consulate in Western Sahara, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Thursday, further solidifying the United States' recognition of Morocco's claim over the disputed territory. While the consulate isn’t expected to open for another six to 12 months, Schenker's trip is a way for the U.S. to cement its commitment to Western Sahara … The Trump administration's recognition of Morocco's claim earlier this month quickly prompted raised eyebrows, from the international community to within his own party. The inauguration will be attended by senior diplomats, members of local authorities, as well as … Although Mauritania abandoned its claim in 1979, Morocco still occupies about two-thirds of the territory. The Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that Zambia and the Kingdom of Eswatini opened consulates in the Western Sahara, bringing the total number of foreign missions in the region to 15. For decades, the United Nations has sponsored efforts to find a political solution to end the conflict. Former Secretary of State James Baker condemned the move last week as both an unnecessary break from the status quo and a potential source of conflict with strategic U.S. allies in the Mediterranean, particularly Algeria. Consistent with President Trump’s proclamation on recognizing the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over the Western Sahara, the State Department announces that it has begun the process to establish a U.S. consulate in the region. Nearby, turquoise waters lap wide, nearly empty Atlantic beaches and diners sip tea in sidewalk cafes. Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until the mid-1970s, when Morocco invaded and established de facto control over most of the area lasting until the present day. Zambia and Eswatini both opened theirs on Tuesday. The USA begins consulate launch in disputed Western Sahara in spite of the United Nations-planned self-determination referendum for the region. Clashes have broken out in Western Sahara, ending a 30-year ceasefire between Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front. Morocco considers that the opening of foreign diplomatic representations in the region "is very important (…) and a legal sign that comes within the framework of the exchange of documents and the Vienna Treaty on consular relations," reported the Moroccan News Agency. Announcement of New Virtual Presence Post for Western Sahara. Citing official sources, Moroccan media reported Senegal is set to open a consulate general in Dakhla , the second most populated city in Western Sahara, on Monday. The Trump administration digs its heels into its controversial position on the Moroccan-claimed territory. | Patrick Semansky, Pool/AP Photo. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) called the agreement "shocking and deeply disappointing.". Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Comoros, Gabon, Sao Tome and Príncipe, Central African Republic and Burundi all opened missions in the region. ", He pointed out that "all regions of the African continent are represented by the Sahara through six countries from the west of the continent, five from its centre, in addition to three countries from the south of the continent and a country from East Africa.". Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony that extends over an area of 266,000 square kilometres, it witnessed an armed conflict until a ceasefire was declared in 1991 between Morocco, which annexed it in 1975, and the Polisario, which called for its independence, backed by Algeria. Morocco controls 80 per cent of the area. The United Arab Emirates on Wednesday became the first Arab country to open a diplomatic mission in the Moroccan-controlled area of the disputed Western Sahara.. U.S. plans to open a consulate in Western Sahara mark a turning point for the disputed and closely policed territory. Western Sahara itself in total counts near 12 Embassies and 1 Consulates spread all over the world. Some 15 African states have also opened consulates in Western Sahara. To facilitate progress toward this aim, the United States will encourage economic and social development with Morocco, including in the Western Sahara territory, and to that end will open a consulate in the Western Sahara territory, in Dakhla, to promote economic and … Ned Price, a spokesman for the Biden transition team, declined to weigh in on the issue. The consulate will be opened by the Moroccan and Senegalese foreign ministers in the Atlantic city of Dakhla, making Senegal the 22nd nation to establish a diplomatic mission in the territory, the sources said. October 30, 2020 at 3:32 pm | Published in: Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita attends a press briefing closing two days of talks on the Western Sahara on December 6, 2018 at the UN Offices in Geneva [FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images], Algeria-Morocco competition exposes the closed shop nature of influence within the AU. The UN should fill its empty special envoy post, while the U.S. leads international efforts to restart diplomacy. Several African countries have also acted against the official position of the African Union, of which SADR is a founding member, to open consulates in Western Sahara. US launches work on consulate in disputed Western Sahara The US Ambassador to Morocco, David Fischer (L), and David Schenker, US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, pose wearing traditional robes in the disputed territory of Western Sahara on Sunday The UN does not recognise Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara. Morocco has been in a diplomatic stalemate with the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, whose Polisario Front retains control over a sliver of land hugging the Algerian border. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's announcement comes after President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would recognize Morocco's long-held claims over the former Spanish territory. Fighting could intensify absent outside help. Some 15 African states have also opened consulates in Western Sahara. READ MORE Morocco, Israel normalise relations after US … FILE - U.S. and Moroccan flags emblems are seen outside the provisional consulate of the U.S in Dakhla, Morocco-administered Western Sahara, Jan. 10, 2021.