Morocco protests Swedish recognition of Western Sahara independence

The Moroccan Foreign Ministry has called the Swedish ambassador in Rabat to protest against the Swedish government’s intention to recognise the Democratic Sahrawi Republic (SADR), a ministry official said.

The official, who preferred anonymity, told Turkey’s Anadolu news agency that the Moroccan Foreign Ministry summoned Swedish Ambassador Erica Ferriere on Tuesday to express the Kingdom’s dissatisfaction with the Swedish government’s “assault on Moroccan sovereignty”.

Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane on Monday held an emergency meeting with opposition parties to discuss the latest developments in the Western Sahara conflict in light of the Swedish decision, a statement by the opposition Socialist Union Party said.

During the meeting, the government has allegedly decided to cancel its decision to allow Swedish furniture giant Ikea to open five stores in Morocco.

Swedish Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Katarina Byrenius Roslund, said Sweden has not recognised the region as an independent state but is conducting an internal review of its “Western Sahara policy”.

A delegation of Moroccan representatives plan to visit Sweden to discuss Swedish plans towards the self-proclaimed Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic.