Ikea’s Moroccan subsidiary told local media the opening of its 270,000-square-foot store in the country’s largest mall near the city of Mohammedia was canceled.
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Sweden’s support for the independence of Western Sahara has hit the headlines, after occupiers Morocco blocked the opening of a branch of Swedish retail giant Ikea in the country. Instead, Morocco’s Interior Ministry released a statement on Monday saying that the store’s opening had been blocked as IKEA needed a “conformity permit”.
The Swedish government and IKEA could not be immediately reached for a comment.
But Le 360 reported (in French) that it was because of Stockholm’s plans to back independence for Western Sahara, a region controlled by Morocco. Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony rich with phosphate and with oilfield potential, was invaded by Morocco in 1975, annexed and occupied.
The decision was taken at a snap meeting on Monday attended by representatives of eight parliamentary parties, wrote Morocco World News.
The news website 360, which is close to the royal palace, said the measure was in retaliation for Swedish moves to “recognise” the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic declared by the separatist Polisario Front.
Sweden is among a small number of nations (some others in Scandinavia and a few in the African Union) who have supported Polisario Front’s push for a Sahrawi Republic.
A center-left coalition came into office a year ago, leading to speculation that recognition of Western Sahara may be imminent – speculation that only intensified after the government formally recognized the state of Palestine in November. The SADR want Western Sahara recognized as an independent state.
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It was unclear if the block was temporary or if permits would be granted for the store in the future.
