Bourita says UN General Assembly strengthened international momentum around Morocco’s Sahara autonomy plan

Saturday 26 September 2026 - 09:30

By: Azzat Manal

Bourita says UN General Assembly strengthened international momentum around Morocco’s Sahara autonomy plan

Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York provided an opportunity to reinforce what Rabat describes as growing international support for its position on the Moroccan Sahara and its autonomy initiative.

Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the high-level UN meetings, Bourita said countries from different regions had expressed or renewed positions supporting Morocco’s sovereignty over the Moroccan Sahara and its 2007 autonomy proposal. He described these developments as part of a broader diplomatic momentum that Morocco believes is increasingly reflected at the multilateral level within the United Nations.

Several diplomatic developments were highlighted during the General Assembly week. Chile issued a joint statement expressing support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its territory, including the Moroccan Sahara, and described the Moroccan autonomy proposal as a political solution it considers just, lasting and mutually acceptable. Santiago also said it would seek to expand economic and trade cooperation with Morocco.

Chile and Morocco also signed terms of reference to serve as a basis for negotiations on a possible free trade agreement. The agreement was concluded during a bilateral meeting between Bourita and Chilean Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna in New York, as the two countries mark 65 years of diplomatic relations.

Panama, meanwhile, reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Moroccan Sahara and said its embassy in Rabat exercises consular jurisdiction throughout Moroccan territory. Panama also reiterated its support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as part of efforts to advance a political settlement of the regional dispute.

Bourita also pointed to positions expressed by other countries during the UN meetings. According to the Moroccan foreign ministry, Mauritius and Jamaica expressed support for the autonomy initiative, while Armenia reiterated its backing for Morocco’s proposal. Armenia’s position was also linked to a letter sent by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to King Mohammed VI concerning Morocco’s initiative on the Moroccan Sahara issue.

The Moroccan minister said these developments would be particularly significant ahead of upcoming discussions at the UN Security Council. Morocco has sought to make the autonomy proposal a central element of negotiations, while the broader UN process continues to involve the parties to the dispute and remains focused on reaching a political solution.

The Moroccan Sahara issue remains the subject of an international diplomatic process at the United Nations, with different positions continuing to be expressed by the parties and member states. The UN framework remains focused on finding a political solution to the dispute.

Bourita’s comments came after a series of bilateral meetings held during the 81st General Assembly. He also met with UN General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman to discuss multilateral cooperation, peacebuilding, UN peacekeeping and wider institutional issues.

For Rabat, the diplomatic positions announced or reiterated in New York represent an extension of its efforts to build international backing for the autonomy initiative. The coming UN discussions are expected to provide further insight into how these positions will be reflected in the broader multilateral process surrounding the Moroccan Sahara.