Rabat – Guatemala opened today its consulate general in Morocco’s Dakhla amid growing support for its position on the Western Sahara dispute.
The opening reflects Guatemala’s support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara.
Guatemala’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mario Adolfo Bucaro and the governor of the Dakhla Oued Eddahab Region Lamine Benomar chaired the opening ceremony.
Several elected officials and consuls accredited in Dakhla attended the opening ceremony.
With today’s opening, the number of countries that opened consulates in southern provinces in Dakhla and Laayoune reached 28.
In Dakhla, sixteen representations were opened, while Laayoune hosted 12 more consulates.
Guatemala announced its decision to open a consulate in Dakhla on September 23 following a meeting between Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita and his Guatemalan counterpart on the sidelines of the 77th UN General Assembly.
“For us, the concepts of sovereignty, peace, and territorial integrity are very important. We support Morocco’s position on this issue and we will continue to support Morocco forever,” the Guatemalan official said following his meeting with Bourita.
In August, King Mohammed VI celebrated the growing support for Morocco’s territorial integrity, paying tribute to all countries that support the country’s Autonomy Plan and opening of the consulates general in southern provinces.
“I should like to say how much I value the position adopted by our brothers in Africa; approximately 40% of African countries from five regional groups have opened consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla,” the King said.
