King Mohammed VI of Morocco is pushing towards structural changes in his country. He has announced Morocco must head for a political and administrative decentralisation which should be starting with power devolution to Western Sahara. The territory, occupied by Morocco since 1974, is included in the UN's list of non-self-governing territories.

In his speech, the king used unprecedented terms such as "regionalisation" and "transfer of powers and competences". According toEl País newspaper, the king stated that the reforms are aimed at "placing the recovered southern provinces [referring to Western Sahara] as the first beneficiaries of an advanced regionalisation".

Mohamed Abdelaziz, leader of the partially recognised Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), has replied the Moroccan head of state that his speech "does not concern" the Sahrawi people, since Sahrawis "are not, have never been and will never be Moroccans".

According to the leader of the Polisario Front, the Moroccan move is an "escape forward and an attempt to block UN efforts to decolonise the territory".

Mohammed VI's proposal has come after Morocco's denial of entry into Western Sahara to activist Aminatu Haidar. She refused to consider herself as a Moroccan and therefore was denied entrance for 2 weeks.

The king will appoint a 22-member Advisory Committee on Regionalisation, which will be headed by former ambassador to Spain Omar Azziman. The plan will "allow the loyal sons and inhabitants of our Moroccan Sahara to have at their disposal wide powers to manage their own local affairs".

Further information:

• African Press Agency: Southern Moroccan provinces to benefit from advanced regionalization
• Euronews: Morocco heads for decentralisation
• Nationalia:Peoples and nations today: Western Sahara