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Doha – Ecuador announced today its decision to suspend recognition of the self-proclaimed “Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic” (SADR), a breakaway political entity established by the Polisario Front, which claims to represent the Western Sahara region in southern Morocco.
Ecuador had previously recognized this entity in 1983 and opened an “embassy” in 2009.
Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld informed her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, of this decision during a telephone conversation, in which she also communicated the notification letter sent to the Polisario Front’s representation in Quito.
Ecuador’s decision aligns with the ongoing momentum initiated by King Mohammed VI in recent years to consolidate Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara and promote the 2007 Autonomy Plan as the sole basis for resolving this regional dispute.
This move marks a new chapter in relations between Morocco and the Latin American nation.
Prior to this development, Ecuador had expressed support for a mutually acceptable political solution to the Western Sahara issue during the 77th session of the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee in October 2022.
At the time, Ecuador’s representative at the UN stated that the Western Sahara issue “requires a mutually acceptable political solution,” in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2602 adopted in October 2021.
Read also: Morocco, Ecuador Look Towards Stronger Cooperation
The significance of the bilateral relationship between Morocco and Ecuador was further underscored in July, when Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld met with Moroccan Ambassador to Colombia and Ecuador, Farida Loudaya, in Quito.
During the meeting, Sommerfeld emphasized her country’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Morocco in various fields, including political, economic, commercial, cultural, scientific, and academic partnerships.
Ecuador’s decision to suspend recognition of the Polisario Front’s self-styled SADR is part of a broader trend in Latin America, a region that was once a stronghold of support for the separatist movement.
In recent years, an increasing number of Latin American countries have come to recognize that they had been misled by the Polisario Front’s ideological propaganda and are now reassessing their positions on the Western Sahara issue.
Morocco’s proactive and multidimensional diplomacy has played a crucial role in this shift, particularly in strengthening ties with strategic partners such as Brazil.
However, challenges remain in garnering support from some Latin American countries. As Morocco deepens its outreach to Latin America, overcoming these lingering challenges will require a renewed and pragmatic diplomatic approach that adapts to each country’s specificities while countering the ideological and historical narratives propagated by Morocco’s adversaries.
