Morocco secures diplomatic win as Madrid talks end with single-document agreement

Sunday 08 February 2026 - 20:51

By: Sahili Aya

Morocco secures diplomatic win as Madrid talks end with single-document agreement

The Madrid meeting on Morocco’s autonomy proposal for its southern provinces, held under U.S. sponsorship, concluded moments ago without a joint press conference — an expected outcome given the sensitivity of the discussions and the political divergences among the parties.

According to confirmed leaks from diplomatic sources closely following the talks, the Moroccan delegation, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita, achieved significant diplomatic gains. Meanwhile, the Algerian delegation, headed by Ahmed Attaf, reportedly left the venue through a side exit to avoid a joint photo opportunity with the Moroccan side.

Morocco’s technical document recognized as the sole reference

Among the most notable outcomes was the recognition of the Moroccan technical document as the only reference framework. Washington succeeded in securing the acceptance of all parties — including Algeria — that the updated Moroccan autonomy initiative (a 40-page document) is now the sole document on the table for technical and substantive discussions. As a result, there is no longer any official reference to “alternative proposals.”

Establishment of a permanent technical committee

An agreement was reached to establish a permanent joint technical committee, composed of legal and technical experts and operating under U.S. and UN supervision. The committee will examine the practical implementation of the autonomy proposal, including taxation, local judicial authority, territorial security, and international representation.

“Madrid 2026” roadmap

Within the framework of the Madrid 2026 roadmap, the parties reached a procedural agreement setting the next negotiation round in Washington for May 2026. This meeting is expected to culminate in the signing of a political framework agreement, paving the way toward the implementation phase.

Remaining points of disagreement

Among the unresolved issues, Algeria refused to take part in a joint photograph with the Moroccan delegation, arguing that such an image would imply political normalization prior to a final settlement.

Disagreement also persists over the terminology of “self-determination.” Morocco maintains that self-determination is effectively realized through autonomy, while Algeria attempted to uphold the traditional formulation. However, diplomatic sources indicate that U.S. pressure clearly leaned in favor of the Moroccan position.