The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Paraguay, Raúl Luís Latorre, reaffirmed on Tuesday in Geneva his country’s “firm” and “constant” support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its Southern Provinces, describing the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative as a “just” and “credible” solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.
Speaking to the press following his meeting with the Speaker of Morocco’s House of Councillors, Mohamed Ould Errachid, on the sidelines of the 151st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Latorre stressed that Paraguay considers the Sahara to be an integral part of Morocco, adding that his country’s position on the matter is “clear and unequivocal.”
“We discussed the deep friendship that unites Paraguay and the Kingdom of Morocco, as well as our country’s firm stance in support of Morocco’s territorial integrity,” Latorre said, noting that he was accompanied by a high-level parliamentary delegation.
On this occasion, the Paraguayan Speaker presented Ould Errachid with a copy of the resolution unanimously adopted by the Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies, recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara and endorsing the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative as the foundation for resolving the dispute.
For his part, Ould Errachid hailed Paraguay’s “clear, courageous, and consistent” position on the Moroccan Sahara, recalling key milestones in this enduring support. These include Paraguay’s withdrawal of recognition of the so-called “sadr” in January 2014, its strong backing of the Autonomy Initiative, and the recent announcement regarding the opening of a Paraguayan consulate in Morocco’s Southern Provinces.
Ould Errachid also highlighted the pivotal role of the Paraguayan Parliament, which has adopted several resolutions reaffirming its position, most recently in November 2024, emphasizing that the Autonomy Initiative represents the only realistic and credible path toward a lasting political solution.
The meeting also led to an agreement to organize reciprocal parliamentary visits between the two legislative institutions, aimed at bolstering South-South cooperation—particularly within the framework of MERCOSUR and the Morocco–Latin America Economic Forum.
The talks were attended by members of the Bureau of the House of Councillors, including Miloud Masside (UMT), Mohammed Salem Benmassoud (UGTM), Mustapha Moucharik (RNI), and Abderrahman Oiffa (PAM), alongside Secretary-General El Assad Zerouali, the Speaker’s Chief of Staff Mansour Lambarki, and the Director of External Relations and Communication Saad Ghazi.
