Burkina Faso Reaffirms Support for Morocco's Territorial Integrity, Autonomy Plan

Rabat – Burkina Faso has once again reiterated its unwavering support for Morocco’s autonomy plan, emphasizing that it represents the “only credible and realistic solution” for resolving the long-standing Western Sahara dispute.

Burkina Faso expressed its support in a joint communique issued today at the end of the 4th session of the Morocco-Burkina Faso Joint Commission, held in Dakhla.

Co-chaired by Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and his Burkina Faso counterpart, Olivia Ragnaghnewende Rouamba, the session served as an important platform to consolidate cooperation between the two nations.

M. Nasser Bourita et la ministre des Affaires Étrangères, de la Coopération Régionale et des Burkinabè de l’Extérieur du Burkina Faso, Mme Olivia Ragnaghnèwendé Rouamba, ont co-présidé, aujourd’hui à Dakhla, les travaux de la 4e session de la Commission mixte Maroc-Burkina Faso. pic.twitter.com/HCz5dFdK5k

— Maroc Diplomatie (@MarocDiplomatie) June 9, 2023

During the meeting, Rouamba reiterated her country’s “firm and constant” support for the territorial integrity of Morocco.

The Burkinabe minister also praised the United Nations’ role as an exclusive and consensual framework for achieving a realistic, practical, and lasting solution to the Western Sahara dispute.

She stressed that the opening of a Consulate General in Dakhla on October 23, 2020, was in line with Burkina Faso’s historical position on the territorial dispute.

The 4th Morocco-Burkina Faso Joint Cooperation Commission aimed to explore new avenues for strengthening cooperation across various fields between Morocco and Burkina Faso, forging fruitful partnerships, and enhancing bilateral relations.

It underscored the commitment of both countries to deepen multi-dimensional cooperation at the bilateral, regional, and international levels.

In their meeting, the two ministers signed 12 partnership agreements, solidifying their collaboration in several sectors such as security, training, education, water management, tourism, sports, and research.

Both parties emphasized their mutual aspiration to make the partnership between Morocco and Burkina Faso a prime example of South-South and inter-African cooperation.

الاتفاقيات الموقعة بين المملكة المغربية وجمهورية بوركينا فاسو بمناسبة انعقاد الدورة الرابعة للجنة المشتركة المغرب-بوركينا فاسو بمدينة الداخلة. pic.twitter.com/OpRZAx96dz

— الدبلوماسية المغربية (@MarocDiplo_AR) June 9, 2023

This is not the first time the head of Burkinabe diplomacy has expressed her country’s clear support for Morocco’s territorial integrity.

In May 2022, the Burkinabe Minister met with her Moroccan counterpart and stressed that the kingdom’s autonomy plan “represents the only credible and realistic solution” to the Western Sahara dispute.

In the same year, the two countries renewed their commitment to developing multi-dimensional cooperation at the bilateral, regional, and international levels.

They have also agreed to extend their cooperation to the fight against terrorism and radicalism and the implementation of economic, technical-scientific, and cultural projects for the benefit of their respective people.

This recent affirmation of support from Burkina Faso further bolsters the growing list of countries endorsing Morocco’s autonomy proposal as the most promising and viable pathway towards a sustainable and politically negotiated resolution to the Western Sahara dispute.

Noteworthy nations joining Burkina Faso in supporting the autonomy plan include the United States, Malta, Cape Verde, Ukraine, Sierra Leone, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and numerous others.

The increasing international backing for Morocco’s autonomy plan reflects the perceived viability and legitimacy of this approach in addressing the complexities surrounding the Western Sahara issue.