Bourita secures backing for Moroccan Sahara during UN meetings

On the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita held a series of high-level meetings with his international counterparts, focusing on two key issues: the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the question of the Moroccan Sahara.

Several nations—including Micronesia, Papua New Guinea, Zambia, Burundi, Palau, and Panama—reaffirmed their support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and its autonomy plan as the most credible and realistic solution to the decades-long dispute.

Bourita also met with Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Sahara, underscoring Rabat’s readiness to continue engaging with the United Nations process while highlighting the growing international recognition of its initiative.

Morocco’s position enjoys the strong backing of major powers such as the United States, France, Spain, and Israel, further consolidating its diplomatic gains. This growing momentum has increasingly frustrated Algeria, which continues to back the Polisario Front, the separatist movement seeking independence in the territory.

Alongside the Sahara dossier, discussions also touched on the crisis in Gaza, where Morocco has maintained a cautious position—calling for humanitarian relief while seeking to preserve its balanced role in Middle Eastern diplomacy.

For Rabat, the meetings in New York demonstrate that its diplomatic offensive is paying off. By securing support from both traditional allies and small but influential nations across multiple regions, Morocco is positioning itself as a key player in shaping the narrative around the Sahara within the UN framework.

Observers note that this strategy isolates Algeria and its Polisario allies, while bolstering Morocco’s image as a reliable partner with wide international legitimacy.