British court deals heavy blow to pro-Polisario NGO’s lawsuit

LONDON - London Court of Appeal's rejection of the case brought by pro-separatist NGO WSC against the Morocco-UK trade agreement dealt a huge blow to the Algeria-backed Polisario Front’s efforts to hamper the deal.

Analysts say the court’s verdict is yet another slap in the face for the Sahrawi separatists who are desperately seeking to torpedo the British-Moroccan trade agreement by any means.

The General Confederation of Moroccan Businesses (CGEM) hailed the verdict as a victory for Moroccan and British companies “which will continue to trade calmly and take full advantage of this agreement, which illustrates the friendly relations between the two countries.”

"Trade between Morocco and the United Kingdom is thus definitively protected," said the CGEM in a statement on Friday, adding that this will also create growing business opportunities, offering additional value to consumers and businesses in both countries and supporting joint economic development.

This decision can no longer be appealed and therefore removes the legal threat to trade flows between the UK and Morocco, which has always been prioritized by the UK government, leading to a 50% annual increase in the fourth quarter of 2022.

On May 9, the British government hailed King Mohammed VI's leadership in making Morocco a key factor for stability, peace and development in the Mediterranean, Sahel-Saharan and West African regions.

This recognition came at the end of the 4th session of the strategic dialogue between the Kingdom of Morocco and the UK that was marked by a joint statement, in which both parties stressed their common commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in the areas of economy, security and cultural cooperation.

“Another milestone in the UK-Morocco relations as we reaffirmed our common vision for the establishment of a strategic partnership and deepening friendship between our two Kingdoms,” tweeted Minister of State Foreign Commonwealth & Development Affairs Lord Tariq Ahmad on his visit to Rabat earlier this month.