In October 2023, Jean-Luc Mélenchon urged President Emmanuel Macron to follow the lead of the United States and Israel on the Western Sahara issue. Today, he’s taking a different stance, seeking to distance himself from Macron.
On Friday, Ecuador announced the opening of its embassy in Morocco, reaffirming its support for Rabat’s autonomy plan for the Sahara. Speaking alongside her Moroccan counterpart, Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld hailed the move as a natural step following her country’s withdrawal of recognition of the Polisario.
The Trump administration is making a renewed push to resolve the Western Sahara issue, but its efforts are currently facing resistance from Algeria. In its opposition, Algeria is leveraging its rare earth minerals and a draft law aimed at regulating oil exploration. Here's what’s at stake.