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Morocco is expected to win its battle in the congress regarding the appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019. Indeed, funds granted to the Kingdom will be used to «assist» Western Sahara, indicates an Act submitted passed by Democrats at the US House of Representatives.
According to the same document «not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act and prior to the obligation of such funds, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the USAID Administrator, shall consult with the Committees on Appropriations on the proposed uses of such funds».
«These are good news for Moroccan officials, who feared the worst after Democrats, who won the majority of the House of Representatives, submitted a proposal excluding the Sahara from assistance funds granted to Morocco», a well-informed source who requested anonymity told Yabiladi.
«This result requested a strong mobilization of Morocco’s lobbyists in the United States, who were helped by influential figures to achieve this. But the war is not over yet as Algerian lobbyists are expected to fire back in the coming weeks», the same source added.
Nita M. Lowey, Morocco’s powerful ally
«The American politician who serves as an US Representatives from New York and chairwoman of the United States House Committee on Appropriations, is an old ally of Morocco and she played a decisive role in this issue», the same source explained, referring to Nita M. Lowey. In August 2007, she led a US representatives’ delegation that visited Morocco and met former Prime Minister Driss Jettou.
The Congresswoman is one of the politicians who received funds from the «Moroccan American Center for Policy» think tank. She is very close to Morocco and to powerful politicians in the Unites States.
Since November’s mid-term election, online newspaper Al Monitor referred to the congresswoman's differences with President Donald Trump and recalled the fact that she supports Morocco’s position on the Western Sahara conflict.
In 2015, and under the chairmanship of former US President Barack Obama, Democrats at the Congress had given a go-ahead to USAID to contribute to the financing of development projects in Western Sahara.
