This article originally appeared in French at:
https://www.leconomiste.com/sahara-le-maroc-doit-aussi-gagner-la-bataille-de-lopinion-americaine/
The Circle of Experts
Sahara: Morocco Must Also Win the Battle of American Public Opinion
By Calvin DARK | Edition N°:7152 Le 09/12/2025
Calvin Dark is an American international affairs analyst and President of RC Communications, based in Washington, D.C. and Rabat. A former Fulbright scholar in Morocco, he currently serves on the National Board of Directors of the Fulbright Association.
The historic adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797 has opened a decisive new phase in the path toward a final settlement of the Sahara conflict. But under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Kingdom has made it clear that this is far more than a momentary diplomatic achievement. The recent meeting—convened by the Sovereign—between His Advisors and leaders of the political parties represented in Parliament aims to update and refine the Autonomy Initiative through broad consultations with the country’s key stakeholders. This participatory process reflects a long-term strategic vision: Morocco does not simply want to win a diplomatic battle; it wants to secure a lasting peace.
This vision highlights an essential truth: domestic support, however overwhelming, is not enough. For the Autonomy Initiative to firmly establish itself as the only credible and durable solution, it must be accompanied by active public diplomacy and education—not only among Moroccan citizens, but also among the Kingdom’s strategic partners, foremost among them the United States.
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Clarify. Explain. Communicate.
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While Moroccans understand the complexity of the Sahara dossier, Americans—even many policymakers—do not always grasp what the Autonomy Initiative actually proposes or why it is indispensable to the stability of the Sahel and the Maghreb. The Sovereign has instructed Moroccan political leaders to explain, clarify, and detail the Initiative for the national public. The same spirit must guide Morocco’s diplomacy in Washington: sustained, structured, and especially bipartisan engagement aimed at informing both Democrats and Republicans.
After two decades of working in Washington on this issue, I have seen firsthand how uneven American knowledge of the Sahara truly is. Some understand the humanitarian urgency and the absurdity of allowing a Cold War–era conflict to persist.
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Powerful Testimonies
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But many others have never heard about the realities facing the populations held in the Tindouf camps, nor about the significant economic and social investments Morocco has made for more than a decade to develop its Southern Provinces.
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In 2005, I had the honor of participating in the “Free Them Now” campaign to secure the release of the last Moroccan prisoners of war held in Algeria, alongside the late U.S. Senator and former POW John McCain. We shared with American officials the powerful testimonies of former Sahrawi detainees previously held by the Polisario.
This grassroots advocacy helped break down misconceptions and sparked genuine awareness. Such efforts remain necessary today: American policymakers and the public must see, understand, and truly feel the difference between what Morocco offers and what Algeria and the Polisario continue to impose.
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Weaponizing Suffering
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The facts are clear. Morocco is investing heavily to create real economic opportunities in the Southern Provinces: infrastructure, renewable energy, port development, tourism growth, and full political integration for Sahrawis. Many countries have opened consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla, offering tangible support for this momentum. Among them are the United States, whose willingness to open a consulate in Dakhla during President Donald Trump’s second term was recently reaffirmed by Massad Boulos, Presidential Advisor for Africa and the Middle East.
By contrast, Algeria and the Polisario continue to keep thousands of Sahrawis in inhumane and precarious conditions, instrumentalizing their suffering in service of a rigid geopolitical agenda. When the realities are placed side by side, the choice is clear—but Americans must be sufficiently informed to recognize it.
​A Modern, Targeted U.S. Strategy​
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​Morocco must therefore pursue in the United States a more targeted, modern strategy capable of reaching both political parties. Since 2020, Republicans have shown particularly strong support for the Autonomy Plan and for U.S. recognition of Moroccan sovereignty. This consistent support is a significant asset for Rabat. However, in the months ahead, Washington could enter a period of divided government—with a Congress potentially controlled by Democrats and a Republican White House.
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​Morocco cannot rely on one political camp alone. It must invest in a bipartisan educational diplomacy designed to ensure strategic continuity, regardless of the outcome of the 2026 Congressional elections or the 2028 presidential race.
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Winning the Battle of Ideas—In Morocco and in Washington
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The ultimate success of the Autonomy Initiative will depend partly on Morocco’s ability to show Americans that this solution is not only fair for the Kingdom, but also beneficial to U.S. interests. Washington has long sought a stable Maghreb—open to trade, a reliable security partner, and resilient against external interference.
The Autonomy Initiative advances all of these objectives.
But for this reality to become a genuine consensus in Washington, sustained, structured, and consistent engagement is essential.
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Just as His Majesty has launched an inclusive national process to finalize the Autonomy Initiative, Morocco must undertake a similar effort in the United States: inform, persuade, build coalitions. The future of the Sahara will not be decided solely in diplomatic forums or at the United Nations. It will also depend on Morocco’s ability to win the battle of ideas—not only at home, but also in Washington.**
