In a significant display of solidarity, Sao Tome and Principe has reiterated its unwavering support for Morocco’s territorial integrity, particularly regarding the Sahara region. This affirmation was made by Foreign Affairs Minister Ilza Maria dos Santos during her inaugural visit to Morocco in her capacity as the country’s foreign minister.
Meeting with her Moroccan counterpart, Minister Nasser Bourita, in Rabat, Minister dos Santos underscored the firm position of Sao Tome and Principe on the Sahara issue. She emphasized that her country continues to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over all of its territories, including the disputed Sahara region. “We firmly support Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, which presents a realistic solution to the ongoing dispute,” Minister dos Santos remarked.
The minister also expressed admiration for King Mohammed VI’s leadership and the efforts his government has made towards resolving the issue. “We support the UN-led political process as the only legitimate framework for a lasting and realistic resolution,” she added.
Sao Tome and Principe’s stance is in line with the growing international support for Morocco’s position on the Sahara. The small African nation has been actively involved in diplomatic relations with Morocco and has joined other African countries in opening consulates in Morocco’s southern provinces of Dakhla and Laayoune. These diplomatic missions underscore the strengthening ties between the countries and the broader momentum within the international community backing Morocco’s territorial claims.
Sao Tome and Principe inaugurated its consulate general in Laayoune in 2020, contributing to the number of consulates in Morocco’s southern provinces, which now total at least 29, with 17 located in Dakhla. This marks a significant diplomatic shift, as the region becomes increasingly recognized globally.
Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita highlighted the growing diplomatic presence in Morocco’s southern territories, noting that nearly 40% of African Union member states have now established diplomatic missions in Dakhla and Laayoune. He also pointed out that the number of countries recognizing the so-called “Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic” has dramatically declined, with nearly 50 nations revoking their recognition in the past two decades.
The continued support for Morocco’s sovereignty in the Sahara region reflects an evolving diplomatic landscape in Africa, signaling a strong shift towards recognition of Morocco’s territorial integrity and a resolution based on the principles of autonomy and international law.