Accra, May 26, GNA-Italian and Moroccan officials and academics have highlighted the preeminence of Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Moroccan Sahara, describing it as a pragmatic and credible framework for achieving a lasting political solution and strengthening stability in the Sahel-Saharan region.
The assessment was made during a meeting held in Verona, northern Italy, which brought together experts, policymakers and members of the Moroccan community.
The event, held under the theme “Autonomy and regionalised governance: Cross perspectives on the Italian experience and the Moroccan perspective,” focused on institutional governance and regional stability.
Participants emphasized that the autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco in 2007 remains a practical and credible basis for resolving the long-standing dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.
They described the plan as “the only pragmatic framework” capable of delivering a lasting political solution while reinforcing regional security.
The discussions also highlighted parallels between Morocco’s approach and Italy’s experience with regional autonomy. Italian Senator Luigi Spagnolli, representing the Trentino-Alto Adige region, noted that the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, 2025, recognized the Moroccan autonomy initiative as a foundation for the UN-led political process.
Spagnolli further pointed to the preamble of Morocco’s Constitution, highlighting the Kingdom’s plural identity and rich cultural diversity.
He said this diversity constituted a strong factor for national cohesion, reinforcing the feasibility of a governance model based on autonomy under sovereignty.
Italian political scientist Marco Baratto supported this view, stating that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty offered a “sustainable political perspective.”
He linked institutional reforms to socio-economic investments in Morocco’s southern provinces, citing ongoing development in sectors such as infrastructure and logistics.
Baratto also drew comparisons with Italy’s Special Statute for Sicily, introduced in 1946, describing both systems as models designed to preserve national unity while accommodating regional specificities and promoting stability.
Adding an academic perspective, Professor of International Relations Yasmine El Hassnaoui stressed that the Moroccan autonomy plan struck a balance between “unity and diversity, sovereignty and self-governance.”
She noted that the initiative was reinforced by significant investment programmes in the southern provinces, including projects in renewable energy, transport and economic infrastructure.
According to participants, such development efforts contribute to improving living standards and strengthening integration within the national framework, further supporting the autonomy model as a viable solution.
The meeting in Verona brought together several Italian regional officials, researchers and members of the Moroccan diaspora, reflecting growing international academic and political interest in governance models that combine decentralisation with national unity.
The discussions concluded with a shared view that Morocco’s autonomy proposal continues to gain relevance as a realistic pathway to stability and cooperation in a region facing complex geopolitical and security challenges.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade