ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the possible legal ramifications of growing support, among third States and International Organisations (IOs), for Morocco's controversial autonomy plan for Western Sahara, which assumes that Morocco already exercises sovereign authority over this Territory. Such endorsements are apparent from statements made by sympathetic States in Security Council meetings dedicated to the Western Sahara Question and within the material proceedings of the General Assembly's committees, particularly in recent sessions of the C24 and Fourth Committee. In a more overt move, several sympathetic States (including the USA) have chosen to recognise Morocco's sovereignty claim to Western Sahara explicitly while, at the same time, supporting the Security Council's aim of finding a solution to the conflict that is mutually acceptable to Morocco and the Polisario. This chapter also evaluates another remarkable development, which began in 2019 and has since gathered pace, whereby a considerable number of States have opened consulates in Western Sahara with Morocco's encouragement; an occurrence that engages the doctrine of recognition as a matter of international law in novel ways.
