Morocco’s diplomatic momentum regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue gained renewed strength on Tuesday as both Niger and Burkina Faso voiced firm support for the Kingdom’s territorial integrity, following the adoption of the UN Security Council’s historic Resolution 2797.
During talks held in Rabat on the sidelines of the Conference on African Victims of Terrorism (December 2–3), Niger’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Nigeriens Abroad, Bakary Yaou Sangaré, praised the adoption of Resolution 2797. Sangaré stressed that the resolution confirms—within the framework of Morocco’s sovereignty—the autonomy initiative as a serious, credible, and lasting basis for resolving the Sahara dispute.
Sangaré highlighted that Niger “warmly welcomes” this development, noting that the Security Council has now firmly enshrined Morocco’s autonomy plan as the path forward, reflecting international recognition of Rabat’s constructive approach to ending the regional dispute. His discussions with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita also covered cooperation between the two nations and the security challenges affecting the Sahel region.
Burkina Faso echoed this strong support. Its Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad, Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, reaffirmed his country’s “firm and unwavering” position in favor of Morocco’s territorial integrity. Traoré emphasized that the adoption of Resolution 2797 reinforces the global acknowledgment of the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the only realistic and credible solution to the conflict.
Traoré also recalled that Burkina Faso has consistently translated its political support into concrete diplomatic actions, most notably the opening of a Consulate General in Dakhla on October 23, 2020—a gesture that Rabat continues to view as a strong sign of commitment to bilateral ties and to the Kingdom’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.
For his part, Minister Nasser Bourita expressed deep appreciation for Burkina Faso’s steadfast and principled stance, stressing that such positions strengthen African solidarity and support ongoing efforts to achieve lasting stability in the region.
The reaffirmation of support from Niger and Burkina Faso comes at a pivotal moment, as Resolution 2797 marks a turning point in UN engagement with the Sahara issue. By recognizing the autonomy initiative within Morocco’s sovereignty framework, the Security Council has aligned itself with a growing number of countries—particularly across Africa—that consider the Moroccan proposal the most viable path to a definitive solution.
The Rabat conference provided an additional platform for discussions, bringing together African leaders to address the shared challenges of terrorism and regional instability—issues closely linked to the future of the Sahel and North Africa.
