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Rabat – Senegal has reaffirmed its firm and unwavering support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces, welcoming the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797.
The resolution recognizes the preeminence of the autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco as the only serious, credible, and durable basis for resolving the regional dispute.
The position was expressed in a joint statement issued today in Rabat following talks between Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, and Senegal’s Minister of African Integration and Foreign Affairs, Cheikh Niang, who is on an official working visit to Morocco.
Reiterating his country’s consistent stance, Niang renewed Senegal’s “constant and firm support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its entire national territory, including the Sahara region,” while also reaffirming Senegal’s “full backing for the autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty.”
In response, Bourita expressed Morocco’s deep appreciation for Dakar’s unwavering position, describing it as a reflection of Senegal’s “perfect understanding of the origins, developments, and implications of this issue for regional stability and integration.”
He also commended Senegal for opening a Consulate General in Dakhla on April 5, 2021, a concrete sign of its steadfast commitment to Morocco’s sovereignty.
During the meeting, Morocco and Senegal also reaffirmed their historic and strategic partnership during high-level talks today in Rabat.
Cheikh Niang, during what marked his first official visit to Morocco since taking office in September, reaffirmed the long-standing cooperation and close diplomatic ties between the two African countries.
“This visit reflects the depth and strength of Moroccan-Senegalese relations, which continue to develop under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and His Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye,” said Bourita during a joint press briefing.
He described Senegal as a central partner in Morocco’s African diplomacy, emphasizing that “The Moroccan-Senegalese relationship is the reference relationship when it comes to Morocco’s ties with Africa.”
A model partnership in Africa
Bourita noted that Senegal occupies a unique place in Morocco’s foreign policy, recalling that it is the African country most visited by King Mohammed VI.
“The only time His Majesty delivered a speech to the Moroccan people from outside the Kingdom was from Dakar, which reflects the special place he accords to this relationship,” he said.
Morocco’s foreign minister also said that Moroccan-Senegalese relations are rooted in “solid foundations and strong human, religious, economic, and security dimensions unmatched between Morocco and any other African country.”
The two ministers agreed to intensify sectoral cooperation in the coming weeks through frequent ministerial visits between Rabat and Dakar.
“Following the guidance of His Majesty the King and President Faye, we agreed to encourage bilateral visits at the ministerial level,” Bourita explained, adding that “these visits will take place almost weekly.”
He also announced that preparations are underway for the next session of the Morocco-Senegal Joint High Commission, which will serve as a platform to sign new agreements and pave the way for an upcoming summit between the two heads of state.
On the regional front, Bourita underlined Senegal’s key role in major African initiatives led by King Mohammed VI, particularly the Royal Atlantic Initiative aimed at connecting Sahel states to the ocean and promoting stability and development in the region.
“Senegal is a hub for stability and growth in the Atlantic Africa region,” Bourita said, adding that Dakar will play “a central role in the Atlantic gas pipeline project.”
The two ministers also reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to closer coordination at the continental and global levels.
Niang’s visit marks another milestone in a long history of cooperation between Morocco and Senegal, whose ties predate their independence and remain among the most enduring and multifaceted partnerships in Africa.
