The Arab League's Stance on Morocco and the Sahara

A Consistent Pro-Morocco Line

Within the Arab League, the SADR is not recognized, and the dominant position treats Western Sahara as part of Morocco's territorial integrity. League summits and resolutions have repeatedly affirmed support for Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces.

This consensus reflects both pan-Arab solidarity with a founding member of the League and the broader alignment of most Arab states, particularly the Gulf monarchies, with Rabat against the Algerian-backed front.

Endorsing the Autonomy Plan

Since Morocco unveiled its autonomy initiative in 2007, the Arab League has welcomed it as a serious and credible basis for a political solution under UN auspices, echoing the language used by Morocco's Western and Gulf partners.

League members have reinforced this through bilateral steps, including the opening of consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla by Arab states, concrete diplomatic signals of support for Moroccan administration of the territory.

Algeria Within the Arab Fold

Algeria is itself an influential Arab League member and the Polisario's principal sponsor, which makes the League's pro-Morocco consensus notable. Algiers generally does not press the Sahrawi cause aggressively inside the League, where it is outnumbered.

The result is that the Arab League functions as a friendly forum for Morocco on the Sahara, in contrast to the African Union, where the SADR holds a seat and the picture is more contested.

Limits of Arab League Influence

The League's endorsement is politically valuable but carries little binding force, as the organization has limited capacity to enforce decisions or shape the UN Security Council process directly.

Its main contribution is normative: it helps frame Moroccan sovereignty as the mainstream Arab position, lending diplomatic weight to Rabat's case while the decisive arena remains the UN-led negotiation.

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