IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 223 

Affirming the historical relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Morocco, condemning the recent provocative actions of the 

Polisario Front and its foreign supporters, and encouraging efforts by 

the United Nations to reach a peaceful resolution of the Western Sahara 

conflict. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 13, 2019 

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. YOHO, and 

Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Affirming the historical relationship between the United 

States and the Kingdom of Morocco, condemning the 

recent provocative actions of the Polisario Front and 

its foreign supporters, and encouraging efforts by the 

United Nations to reach a peaceful resolution of the 

Western Sahara conflict. 

Whereas the Kingdom of Morocco was the first country to 

formally recognize the United States in 1777 and remains a strong ally and partner for peace in the Middle 

East and North Africa; 


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•HRES 223 IH 

Whereas the lack of resolution to conflict in the Western Sahara for more than 40 years inhibits the regional security 

and economic prosperity of North Africa; 

Whereas Morocco has long sought a resolution of the Western 

Sahara conflict through a negotiated process that creates 

autonomy for the region under Moroccan sovereignty; 

Whereas for over 10 years and across three Administrations, 

United States officials have characterized the proposal 

for autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as both ‘‘serious and credible’’; 

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 2414 

(2018), proposed and supported by the United States, 

criticized provocative actions by the Polisario Front in 

the Western Sahara territory and called for the ‘‘immediate withdrawal’’ of the Polisario Front from portions of 

the Western Sahara and for the group ‘‘to refrain from 

[any] destabilizing actions’’; 

Whereas, on May 1, 2018, Morocco announced it was severing diplomatic ties with Iran due to its purported support, along with that of the Lebanon-based Hezbollah militia, for the Polisario Front; 

Whereas the Government of Iran has provided monetary and 

other forms of material support to terrorist organizations 

such as Hezbollah; 

Whereas the United States has designated Hezbollah in its 

entirety as a foreign terrorist organization; 

Whereas the efforts of Iran and Hezbollah to maintain influence in North Africa runs counter to the national security objectives of the United States; and 


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•HRES 223 IH 

Whereas the United States has a significant national security 

interest in the stability and economic prosperity of North 

Africa: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) reaffirms its support for the Kingdom of 

3 Morocco as our oldest ally and as a partner in com4 bating terrorism and promoting stability and pros5 perity in North Africa; 

6 (2) condemns the provocative actions taken by 

7 the Polisario Front in Western Sahara; 

8 (3) condemns any action by the Government of 

9 Iran or by Hezbollah that promotes instability in 

10 North Africa; 

11 (4) reaffirms that Morocco’s autonomy plan is 

12 serious, realistic, and credible, and represents a path 

13 forward to satisfy the aspirations of the people in 

14 the Western Sahara to run their own affairs in 

15 peace and dignity; and 

16 (5) calls on President Trump, the Secretary of 

17 State, and the Ambassador to the United Nations, 

18 to assist the United Nations in supporting a peace19 ful agreement to the Western Sahara conflict that is 

20 consistent with the United States position and will 

21 be enduring and enforceable. 

Æ 


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