Ecuador backs Morocco’s autonomy plan in Western Sahara diplomacy

Yesterday 15:08

Ecuador has renewed its backing for Morocco’s autonomy initiative for Western Sahara, adding its voice to the diplomatic debate unfolding at the United Nations in New York.

Speaking before the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee on Friday, Ecuador’s representative said Quito considers Morocco’s autonomy proposal a serious and realistic avenue toward a lasting settlement. The position was presented in connection with Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted in October 2025.

Ecuador calls for negotiations without preconditions

Ecuador also emphasized its support for the UN-led political process and for the work of Secretary-General António Guterres and his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura.

The Ecuadorian delegation urged the parties involved in the dispute to engage in negotiations in good faith and without preconditions. Quito said discussions should use the Moroccan autonomy initiative as a basis for efforts to reach a definitive and mutually acceptable political settlement.

This emphasis on negotiations corresponds with the Security Council’s current framework. Resolution 2797 calls on the parties to participate in discussions without preconditions, taking Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal as a basis for negotiations, while maintaining the objective of a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution. The resolution also states that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could constitute a feasible solution.

A diplomatic position within a broader UN process

Ecuador’s statement comes as the Western Sahara issue continues to be addressed through the United Nations political process. The Fourth Committee, formally known as the Special Political and Decolonization Committee, is among the UN bodies dealing with the question of Western Sahara.

The latest Security Council framework does not itself conclude the dispute. Instead, Resolution 2797 calls for negotiations involving Morocco, the Frente POLISARIO, Algeria and Mauritania, with de Mistura tasked with advancing the political process. The mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was also extended until October 31, 2026.

Ecuador’s latest declaration therefore places its diplomatic support for the Moroccan initiative within an ongoing multilateral process rather than marking the conclusion of negotiations.

Continued focus on a negotiated settlement

The Ecuadorian position reflects its stated preference for advancing the dispute through UN-facilitated talks. By calling for participation without preconditions, Quito has also highlighted the importance it attaches to continued diplomatic engagement among the parties.

The Western Sahara dispute remains on the UN agenda, with the international organization continuing to encourage negotiations aimed at reaching a political settlement that is mutually acceptable and consistent with the UN framework.