The Republic of Kenya considers Morocco’s autonomy Plan as the only sustainable approach to resolving the Sahara issue and welcomes the growing international consensus and the momentum led by His Majesty the King in support of this initiative.

This position was expressed in a Joint Communiqué issued Monday in Rabat, following a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of the Republic of Kenya Musalia Mudavadi.

In this Communiqué, Kenya “considers the autonomy plan as the only sustainable approach to the resolution of the Sahara issue and intends to cooperate with like-minded States to foster its realization.”

In this context, “the Republic of Kenya welcomes the growing international consensus and momentum led by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in favor of the autonomy plan presented by the Kingdom of Morocco as the only credible and realistic solution to resolve the dispute over the Sahara issue,” the Communiqué adds.

The two senior officials emphasized the “exclusivity of the United Nations in the political process and reaffirmed their support for UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2756 (2024).”

The Kingdom of Morocco “appreciates Kenya’s recognition of Morocco’s ongoing cooperation with the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to advance the political process on the basis of relevant Security Council resolutions,” the Communiqué underlines.

-MAP

Morocco’s monarch, King Mohammed VI, has met with the foreign ministers of the triad that forms the Sahel States Alliance.

The alliance is a confederation formed among Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic shortly after their exit from ECOWAS following the military rule in the countries.

King Mohammed VI hosted the three foreign ministers as part of Morocco’s strong and longstanding relations with the three countries.

According to a release by the Moroccan News Agency, MAP, the relationship of Morocco with the three West African countries has always been characterised by sincere friendship, mutual respect, active solidarity, and fruitful cooperation.

The three foreign ministers expressed gratitude to Morocco for granting access for the Sahel countries to the Atlantic Ocean. The action, as well as the other royal initiatives, the ministers observed, are meant to promote the economic and social development of the countries of the region and their peoples.

On this, the ministers conveyed their Heads of State’s gratitude to King Mohammed VI. In attendance were Karamoko Jean Marie Traoré, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation, and Burkinabe Nationals Abroad of Burkina Faso; Abdoulaye Diop, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Mali; and Bakary Yaou Sangaré, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Nigeriens Abroad of the Transitional Government of the Republic of Niger.

More countries are putting their weight behind Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara as France becomes the latest to do so.

In a statement released Tuesday by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs following a meeting between the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, and Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita, France reaffirmed its “unwavering” position on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara.

The statement reiterates the position expressed by President Emmanuel Macron to King Mohammed VI in his letter dated July 30, 2024, emphasizing that “for France, the present and future of Western Sahara lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty,” while recalling the “unwavering nature of France’s position” and its commitment to “act consistently with this position at both the national and international levels.”

Furthermore, the French Minister reiterated France’s “clear and consistent support for the autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty,” describing it as “the only framework within which this issue should be resolved” and stressing that it is “the sole basis” for reaching a political solution, according to the statement.

Noting the “growing international consensus” in support of Morocco’s autonomy initiative, Jean-Noël Barrot stated that France intends to fully contribute to this momentum.

Additionally, France reaffirmed its commitment “to support Morocco’s significant efforts in promoting economic and social development” in the southern provinces of the Kingdom, highlighting the various measures taken in this regard and expressing its willingness to continue this dynamic, according to the same source.