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The Czech Republic supports Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara
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The Czech Republic through the voice of its Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Petr Macinka, affirmed on Thursday 26 March Prague’s support for the Moroccan position for the Sahara.
Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara
Received this Thursday in Rabat, he states that “there is no better solution” to the regional dispute. Petr Macinkas’was expressing during a press briefing at the end of an interview with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita. He also welcomed “the positive initiatives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in favor of regional development”, especially in the southern provinces and particularly in the region of Dakhla.
‘We particularly appreciate the progress made in the region you call the Moroccan Sahara and we are aware of the solution you are implementing,’ said Petr Macinka. According to him, the solution proposed by Rabat through autonomy under the sovereignty of Morocco ‘is quite feasible’.
”I am strongly opposed to what is called political correctness, which generally attempts to mask a reality that everyone knows. That’s why, I fully understand the acute sense of realities and realism of Moroccan officials, when they use terms like «Moroccan Sahara». I think that one day everyone will understand the truth and the real situation.
In this context, Petr Macinka highlighted the natural choice of Morocco for his very first visit to North Africa since taking office. “This is absolutely not just a courtesy trip, but rather a visit to a friendly country and strategic partner,” he said.
In this context, discussions focused on the continuation of ‘strengthening political and economic relations, but also security issues and military cooperation’, with Morocco being the ‘main trading partner’ of the Czech Republic in Africa.
Bilateral ties
During their talks, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita and Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Petr Macinka stated that bilateral ties have reached a high level of maturity, acquiring strategic importance in several areas.
In this context, they underscored their shared commitment to working toward the establishment of a structured strategic partnership, grounded in decades of diplomatic relations and converging interests.
The two officials also reiterated their determination to maintain a regular and in-depth political dialogue covering major international issues as well as key areas of cooperation, including security, economy, defense, energy, migration, culture, and tourism. They also agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level visits and economic missions.
Bourita and Macinka also welcomed the progress achieved since the 2023 Prague Joint Declaration, which has significantly broadened the scope of bilateral cooperation, reflecting their shared views and commitment to reinforcing the partnership.
In this same vein, both sides agreed to further promote their cooperation in strategic, high-value-added sectors, including health and pharmaceuticals, science and innovation, water management, infrastructure, the automotive industry, smart cities, aerospace, cybersecurity, innovative transportation, digitization, and railways.
They also intend to explore opportunities for industrial co-development in fields such as defense, mining and food industries, as well as renewable energy and agriculture.
The two ministers further spoke of holding the first meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation in Prague this year, deemed a key driver for materializing these shared ambitions.
They then expressed their willingness to enhance Morocco’s visibility in the Czech Republic, notably through its participation as a guest country at the Brno International Fair in 2027.
On the security front, both sides welcomed bolstering military cooperation, noting that the Military Agreement inked in October 2024, once ratified, will open up new opportunities in areas of defense industry, training, joint exercises, and technical cooperation.
The Czech Republic also welcomed Morocco’s nomination as a co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, noting that this event will contribute significantly to the Kingdom’s development while offering opportunities for Czech companies to participate.
Finally, the two ministers tackled reinforcing the human and cultural dimensions of bilateral relations. They agreed to actively promote cultural and academic exchanges as well as public diplomacy initiatives, in order to enshrine ties between the two peoples, increase cultural visibility, and foster the mobility of students and researchers.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Petr Macinka, met also in Rabat with the President of the Chamber of Representatives, Rachid Talbi Alami.
The two parties emphasized the good relations between the two countries, as well as the major projects undertaken by Morocco under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The meeting also focused on ways to strengthen relations between the two countries, particularly at the parliamentary level. The two parties insisted on the importance of cooperation and coordination between legislative institutions and parliamentarians at bilateral and multilateral level, for common interests of the two countries.
What’s next – Sahara: Belgium reaffirms its support for Morocco’s autonomy plan
Petr Macinka: “I am strongly opposed to what is called political correctness, which generally attempts to mask a reality that everyone knows. That’s why I fully understand the acute sense of realities and realism of Moroccan officials.”
According to this logic, Germany’s 1939 invasion of Czechoslovakia or the suppression of the uprising in Hungary and Czechoslovakia against Russia would also have been legal, since they were simply reality. So why are the Hungarians and Czechs getting so upset?
That’s why he also has no problem with Russia forcibly annexing another country in Europe, just not Czech Republic. That would, of course, be a completely different case. As I always say, the solidarity of a wolf pack!
That’s quite a peculiar understanding of the law for a minister in a democratic country.
Spanish Sahara was the name given to a Spanish colony in Northwest Africa that existed between 1884 and 1975. Immediately before the death of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in the winter of 1975, Spain launched an intensive campaign of territorial claims against Morocco and, to a lesser extent, Mauritania. Spain withdrew its armed forces and settlers from the region following a tripartite agreement on November 14, 1975, with Morocco and Mauritania, both of which assumed control of different parts of the region. On February 26, 1976, the last Spanish troops left Spanish Sahara, thus ending Spanish rule over the territory.
Mauritania relinquished its claim after an unsuccessful struggle against the Polisario Front. Morocco then occupied the southern part of Western Sahara and waged war against the Algerian-backed Polisario Front until the ceasefire that came into effect in 1991. The territory remains disputed.
In 2008, renewed talks between Morocco and the Polisario Front under UN auspices proved fruitless. The Polisario Front rejected Morocco’s offer of extensive autonomy. Morocco categorically rejected a referendum with the three options of independence, union with Morocco, or autonomy.