The Republic of Guinea reinforces its support for Morocco's territorial integrity

The Republic of Guinea (also known as Guinea Conakry) supports and respects the territorial integrity of Morocco by recognising the Kingdom's proposal for autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty as the most realistic and serious way of resolving the Saharawi dispute, a problem that has dragged on for more than four decades.  

This became clear after the meeting held in Rabat between Morissanda Kouyaté, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Guinea, and Nasser Bourita, Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Resident Abroad. Kouyaté said that "for Guinea, the territorial integrity of Morocco must be respected". "We respect it and we ask that it be respected," he stressed.  

"We consider that the United Nations is the exclusive framework for a discussion on the Sahara dispute. For this to happen, there must be concrete, serious and realistic proposals. Criteria that only the Moroccan autonomy initiative can meet", explained Morissanda Kouyaté. 

Morissanda Kouyaté and Nasser Bourita met in Rabat with the aim of strengthening diplomatic ties between the two countries, and this was demonstrated by the good atmosphere that prevailed between the two diplomatic leaders. The two signed a joint declaration that serves as a road map for South-South relations, also in accordance with the views of the King of Morocco, Mohamed VI, as the Moroccan Foreign Minister indicated.  

Point de presse conjoint entre M. Nasser Bourita et son homologue guinéen, M. Morissanda Kouyaté, à l'issue de leur entretien bilatéral.@morissanda pic.twitter.com/3f9lrj1leF

— Maroc Diplomatie 🇲🇦 (@MarocDiplomatie) May 9, 2023

The Guinean Foreign Minister made clear his country's support for Morocco's territorial integrity and expressed his full respect for Morocco's proposal for autonomy for Western Sahara. Morissanda Kouyaté also stressed the "great joy and pleasure" of conveying the message of the President of the Transition and Head of State, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya, to King Mohammed VI.  

Morissanda Kouyaté said that "relations between Guinea and Morocco are historic and based on privileged cooperation, as shown by the trips of His Majesty the King to Guinea and the projects underway". The Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs also wished, on behalf of the Guinean Head of State, to "thank Morocco for its cooperation in the field of training, particularly in the military field". 

His Moroccan counterpart stressed that this meeting was part of the "deep, strong and solid" relations between the two countries, based on "mutual respect, solidarity and cooperation". Nasser Bourita also stressed that King Mohammed VI's numerous visits to Guinea have contributed to "strengthening and developing relations", making them "exemplary in all areas". 

Nasser Bourita also indicated that "Morocco follows with confidence the progress made in Guinea and considers that the Guinean leaders have the wisdom and sufficient capacity to enable them to respond and respond to the aspirations of the Guinean people to bring stability and development within a framework of national unity". 

An example of the good harmony between the two ministers is the announcement made during the meeting between them about the next Joint Commission to be held in Dakhla next July. The occasion will be used to sign cooperation agreements and agree on a series of initiatives aimed at "strengthening relations between the two countries".  

Indeed, other important countries have recognised the Moroccan proposal as the most "serious, credible and realistic" proposal to solve the Western Sahara conflict, such as the United States and the United Arab Emirates, and the latter indicated that they would open consulates in southern regions such as Dakhla and Laayoune in the vicinity of Western Sahara, demonstrating their full support for the Moroccan kingdom in this matter.  

Morocco defends a broad autonomy initiative for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty, respecting the resolutions of the United Nations Organisation, which has significant support, with the aim of developing the area in all senses of the word. The Polisario Front, with the support of Algeria, Morocco's great regional rival, and with less international backing, is opposing this proposal, which advocates holding a referendum on independence for the Sahrawi people.