Ecuador has further solidified its diplomatic ties with Morocco by publicly reaffirming its support for the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative as the most credible and realistic framework for resolving the long-standing dispute over the Western Sahara.
The endorsement was made by Gabriela Sommerfeld, Ecuador’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, during a joint press conference with her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, following high-level discussions in Rabat.
Sommerfeld emphasized that Ecuador’s position is consistent with the majority of United Nations member states, aligning with international calls for a “realistic, pragmatic, and durable” solution within the UN framework. She described Morocco’s autonomy proposal as “the basis” for ending the regional impasse.
“We support Morocco’s serious and credible efforts toward achieving a political solution that ensures stability and regional cooperation,” Sommerfeld said.
Ecuador’s stance represents a further step in its foreign policy realignment after the South American country withdrew recognition of the so-called ‘sadr’ (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic) on October 22, 2024, severing all diplomatic ties with the separatist entity.
This diplomatic shift is viewed as a boost for Morocco’s sovereignty claims over the Sahara and adds to growing international support for its autonomy plan, which proposes self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty.
Analysts see Ecuador’s move as a sign of deepening strategic relations between the two nations, with potential implications for South-South cooperation and multilateral collaboration in global forums.
