CIA updates its official map and incorporates Western Sahara as part of Morocco

This move coincides with Donald Trump's return to the White House

Logotipo de la Agencia Central de Inteligencia de Estados Unidos se muestra en el vestíbulo de la sede de la CIA en Langley - REUTERS/ JASON REED — The logo of the US Central Intelligence Agency is displayed in the lobby of the CIA headquarters in Langley - REUTERS/ JASON REED

Updated: 21/01/25

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has recently updated its official website, incorporating a new map and data on Morocco. The updated map now reflects the entire territory of Morocco, explicitly acknowledging Western Sahara as an integral part of the North African country.

The CIA's official website now describes the map of Morocco as including ‘major population centres, as well as parts of neighbouring countries and the North Atlantic’. In its description, the CIA notes that ‘in 2020, the United States recognised Morocco's sovereignty over all of Western Sahara’. 

Mapa de Marruecos que muestra los principales centros de población, así como partes de los países circundantes y el Océano Atlántico Norte. Tenga en cuenta que en 2020 los Estados Unidos reconocieron el Sáhara Occidental como parte de Marruecos - PHOTO/ https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/morocco/map/ — Map of Morocco showing the main population centres, as well as parts of the surrounding countries and the North Atlantic Ocean. Note that in 2020 the United States recognised Western Sahara as part of Morocco - PHOTO/ https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/morocco/map/

In its factbook, the US intelligence agency provides comprehensive information on Morocco's geography, history, economy, political system, demographics, people and key officials.

This update coincides with Donald Trump's return to the White House. US-Moroccan relations reached a historic milestone in 2020, when the Trump administration officially recognised Morocco's sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara. Although the Biden administration has taken a discreet stance on the matter, it has not contested the position taken by the Trump administration. 

This recognition included US support for Morocco's autonomy proposal, which was described as ‘serious, credible and realistic’ and ‘the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute’.

Following in Washington's footsteps, other countries such as Spain, France and Israel have recognised Rabat's sovereignty over the region.

The US State Department's official bulletin had previously published a map that included the southern Moroccan provinces in its comprehensive borders. 

Banderas de Estados Unidos y Marruecos junto a un mapa autorizado por el Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos de Marruecos que reconoce el territorio internacionalmente disputado del Sahara Occidental como parte del reino del norte de África, en la capital de Marruecos - PHOTO/ ARCHIVO — U.S. and Moroccan flags next to a map authorized by the U.S. State Department of Morocco recognizing the internationally disputed territory of Western Sahara as part of the North African kingdom, in Morocco's capital - PHOTO/ FILE

For its part, the State Department spokeswoman had stated that this map, produced by the Bureau of Geographic and Global Affairs, is recognised as an official reference under the name ‘Foreign Service Functions map’.
 
This map confirms the international boundaries recognised by the United States, while illustrating the State Department's official diplomatic presence around the world. It is widely used in Washington and in US embassies.

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