Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara gains global support
- United Kingdom: a key player aligns itself with Rabat
- Africa: Kenya, Ghana and other states consolidate their support
- Latin America and Eastern Europe: new support and diplomatic gestures
- The European Union and the Gulf countries: increasingly coordinated support
- Developments on the ground: South-South cooperation and strategic projects
The year 2025 is witnessing a major diplomatic shift on the issue of Western Sahara. Against a backdrop of growing international support, the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007 is consolidating its position as the main basis for a viable and lasting political solution to the regional dispute. Since January this year, several countries have reaffirmed, updated or adopted positions favourable to the Moroccan proposal, marking a clear trend in favour of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara.
United Kingdom: a key player aligns itself with Rabat
On 1 June 2025, the United Kingdom officially joined the growing international consensus by considering the autonomy plan as ‘the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis’ for resolving the conflict. The position was formalised in Rabat through a Joint Declaration signed by David Lammy, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, and his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita.
The document highlights that the United Kingdom ‘will continue to act bilaterally and at the regional and international levels’ in support of this proposal, while recognising the leadership role of King Mohammed VI in promoting a peaceful solution. London also emphasised that the resolution of the conflict would strengthen stability in North Africa and promote regional integration.
Africa: Kenya, Ghana and other states consolidate their support
Five days earlier, on 26 May, another decisive step took place in Nairobi. Kenya, historically aligned with the positions of the Polisario Front, recognised the Moroccan plan as ‘the only sustainable approach’ to resolving the conflict. This position was announced in a joint communiqué following the meeting between Nasser Bourita and Kenyan Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, consolidating a significant shift in African geopolitics.
Similarly, Ghana announced on 7 January 2025 the official withdrawal of its recognition of the self-proclaimed ‘SADR’, thus joining similar decisions taken by Panama and Ecuador at the end of 2024. With this, more than 85% of UN member states no longer recognise this entity, substantially weakening its international legitimacy.
Latin America and Eastern Europe: new support and diplomatic gestures
El Salvador, in the context of the inauguration of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, reaffirmed on 25 May its support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and announced its intention to open a consulate in Laayoune, a diplomatic gesture of high symbolic value.
At the same time, Eastern Europe has strengthened its involvement. Slovakia (22 May), Slovenia (18 April), Hungary (16 April), Croatia, Moldova and Estonia have clearly spoken out in favour of the autonomy plan as a solid basis for resolving the conflict. Hungary has even taken concrete steps to reinforce its position by expanding its consular services in the Sahara and sending its ambassador to the region.
The European Union and the Gulf countries: increasingly coordinated support
Twenty-two of the 27 Member States of the European Union have officially expressed their support for the Moroccan initiative, with Spain's repeated backing being particularly noteworthy. On 17 April, Spain described Morocco's plan as ‘the most serious, realistic and credible basis’ for a solution. France, for its part, has reaffirmed its ‘intangible’ support on several occasions since Emmanuel Macron's speech in Rabat in October 2024.
This is in addition to the ongoing support of the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, along with nations in Latin America, Central Asia and Africa.
Developments on the ground: South-South cooperation and strategic projects
This political recognition is also materialising at the economic and international cooperation levels. On 17 January 2025, the cities of Laayoune and Dakhla hosted important joint commissions with Côte d'Ivoire and Liberia, which expressed their willingness to contribute to the development of the southern provinces. These initiatives are part of ambitious projects such as the Atlantic Port of Dakhla, the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline, and real initiatives to give the Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean.
This remarkable diplomatic breakthrough is the result of a strategy pursued by Morocco under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. With international tours by Minister Nasser Bourita to key capitals, an active South-South cooperation policy, and a coherent proposal anchored in UN principles, Morocco has succeeded not only in positioning its autonomy plan as the only viable solution, but also in diplomatically isolating the Polisario and its traditional supporters.
In just six months, the Moroccan autonomy plan has gained unprecedented legitimacy on the international stage. With the explicit support of more than 116 countries — more than 60% of UN members — and the consolidation of a constant and multisectoral diplomatic dynamic, the solution to the Sahara conflict seems closer than ever. The increasingly aligned international community recognises that peace, stability and regional integration require autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty.