Ecuador recognizes Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and announces a strengthening of its diplomatic presence in the region

The Republic of Ecuador reaffirmed its support for Morocco's sovereignty over its entire territory, including the Sahara region, and announced new measures for diplomatic, consular, and economic cooperation with the Kingdom of Morocco.

The position was made public on Monday, November 9th, through a joint statement released in Rabat, following a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad of Morocco, Nasser Bourita, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador, Roberto Carlos Kury Pesantes.

In the document, Quito considers that the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco in 2007 constitutes "the only serious, credible and realistic solution" to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara question.

The Ecuadorian government also argues that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty represents the most viable solution to resolve the dispute.

As a concrete demonstration of this position, Ecuador decided to extend the consular coverage of its embassy in Morocco to the entire Moroccan territory, including the Sahara region.

The country also announced a visit by its ambassador accredited to Morocco to the so-called Southern Provinces, an initiative intended to translate, on the ground, the alignment of its diplomatic, economic and consular position.

Economic cooperation on the horizon

In addition to strengthening diplomatic relations, Ecuador has expressed interest in promoting opportunities for economic and commercial cooperation in the Moroccan Sahara region.

According to the joint statement, this initiative aims to open new perspectives for access to the African continent for Ecuadorian economic sectors, through the strengthening of investment, trade and productive development relations.

Morocco welcomed Quito's position, viewing the announced measures positively as part of deepening bilateral relations.

The announcement represents a new development in the context of international support for Morocco's proposal for autonomy in the Sahara, presented in 2007, in a dispute that continues to dominate the international diplomatic agenda.