Rabat – Comoros officially opened its general consulate in Laayoune, Western Sahara on Wednesday, December 18.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita chaired the inauguration ceremony of the consulate alongside Comorian FM Souef Mohamed El Amine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported.
The move comes after Bianrifi Tarmidi, the envoy of Comoros,’ president announced his country’s intention to open the consulate in Laayoune.
Morocco considers Laayoune part of its sovereignty territory in the region.
Tarmidi said in a press briefing in Rabat on November 13 that “Morocco and Comoros are brotherly countries.”
Comoros is among numerous countries that have affirmed their ongoing support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and its position on the Western Sahara conflict.
The country has long voiced support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, a proposal submitted to the UN in 2007 as a political solution for the Western Sahara conflict.
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Comoros has become the first country to open a general consulate in Laayoune, Western Sahara after Cote D’ivoire. The West African country also inaugurated an “honorary consulate” in the southern city in June.
Comoros has five consulates across the world with only eight embassies in the world, including three in Africa.
The country does not have an embassy in Morocco.
Several other countries have expressed their intention to open a consulate in Western Sahara, including Gambia.
Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mamadou Tangara said on December 12 in Rabat that his country is discussing the “upcoming opening of a consulate of the Republic of Gambia” in Dakhla.
The Gambian official said that the opening of this consulate will take place “as soon as possible.”
He also reiterated his country’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity.
“We will work together to give concrete substance to the visions of our two heads of state,” added Tangara.
