Zambia Reaffirms Steadfast Backing for Morocco's Territorial Integrity

Friday 24 May 2024 - 16:00

In a diplomatic move of significant import, the Republic of Zambia has once again voiced its unwavering support for Morocco's territorial integrity and sovereignty over the entire Moroccan territory, including the Sahara region. This resolute stance was articulated in a joint communiqué issued following talks between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Zambian counterpart, Mulambo Haimbe, who currently serves as the Minister of Justice and interim Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The communiqué left no room for ambiguity, with Haimbe reiterating his country's "full backing" for the Moroccan autonomy plan, which he hailed as the sole "credible, serious, and realistic" solution to the long-standing issue. His words echoed a recognition of the plan's merit and viability in addressing the complex challenges surrounding the Sahara region.

Furthermore, the Zambian minister commended the efforts of the United Nations as the exclusive framework for achieving a practical, durable, and realistic solution to the Sahara dispute. This endorsement underscores the international community's commitment to finding a peaceful and mutually acceptable resolution through multilateral channels.

Bourita, in turn, expressed his appreciation for the "positive value" of Zambia's decision, hailing the "positive evolution" of bilateral relations between the two fraternal nations. This progress was exemplified by the opening of Zambia's embassy in Rabat and its consulate general in Laayoune in October 2020, as well as Zambia's participation in the Ministerial Conference in Support of the Autonomy Initiative under the Sovereignty of the Kingdom, hosted jointly by Morocco and the United States in January 2021.

As the Sahara issue continues to be a topic of international discourse, Zambia's unwavering stance resonates as a powerful endorsement of Morocco's autonomy plan and a recognition of the country's territorial integrity. This diplomatic move not only strengthens the bilateral ties between the two nations but also underscores the growing international consensus on the need for a pragmatic and sustainable resolution to this longstanding dispute.