Morocco becomes ‘Sectoral Dialogue Partner’ of ASEAN _Morocco has secured the distinction of being the first in Africa to attain this status_ In the ever-shifting landscape of international diplomacy, a notable contrast has emerged between two North African nations: Morocco and Algeria. While Algeria grapples with the repercussions of its recent rejection by the BRICS, Morocco has scored a significant diplomatic victory by officially attaining the status of an ASEAN sectoral dialogue partner.

On August 24, 2023, the BRICS, the organization of emerging countries consisting of China, India, Brazil, Russia, and South Africa, announced the admission of 6 new members: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Iran. However, Algeria, which had also applied for membership, was rejected. 

The autonomy plan proposed by Morocco to find a definitive solution to the artificial dispute over the Moroccan Sahara is the "only practical way" for moving forward, British MP Liam Fox said in Rabat on Wednesday.

This position was expressed by Fox in a statement to the press following his talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita.

"It’s important that we focus on what is best" for the populations of the region "and that we look for a practical way forward in the politics of the region," he said.

The Republic of Zambia on Tuesday reiterated its "unwavering support" for the Kingdom's territorial integrity and for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the "only credible and realistic solution" for resolving the artificial dispute over the Sahara.

Bali - Exercising several rights of reply to the provocative and tendentious statements made by Algeria's permanent representative to the UN, Amar Benjama, at the annual seminar of the UN Committee of 24 (C24), Morocco's ambassador to the international organization, Omar Hilale, stressed that the decolonization of the Moroccan Sahara has been definitively sealed since 1975, under the Madrid Agreement.

London - The London Court of appeal irrevocably dismissed, on Thursday, the appeal by the pro-separatist NGO "WSC" against a previous decision by the administrative Court, rejecting its application to reconsider the Association Agreement between Morocco and the United Kingdom.
 

This third setback since last December for the enemies of Morocco's territorial integrity confirms the validity of the association agreement linking the two countries, which benefits the populations and development of all the Kingdom's regions, from north to south.

Reacting to press reports about the activation by the VFS-Global company of its temporary branch in the city of Tindouf, the Italian embassy in Rabat said that this decision aims to improve and simplify the filing of visa applications, noting that "pop-up" centers will be opened in the coming weeks in other cities in Algeria.

In a statement, Italy's diplomatic representation in Rabat said that this administrative initiative is not related to the Italian position on the Sahara issue.