Paraguay has announced plans to open a consulate in Western Sahara, joining a growing number of African, Arab, and Latin American nations that have established diplomatic missions in the disputed territory in support of Morocco’s sovereignty claim, Morocco’s foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
In a statement issued after talks in Rabat between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and his Paraguayan counterpart, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, the ministry said Asunción had also endorsed “autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as a realistic and lasting solution” to the decades-long conflict.
“The Republic of Paraguay expresses its firm support for the Kingdom of Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces,” the Moroccan foreign ministry said. “It also welcomes the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco as the only basis for resolving this regional dispute.”
The announcement marks a further diplomatic victory for Morocco, which has intensified efforts in recent years to gain support from Latin American countries that previously recognised the Algeria-backed Polisario Front and its self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
Morocco considers Western Sahara part of its sovereign territory, while the Polisario Front continues to demand full independence. The dispute, which dates back to the 1970s, remains one of Africa’s longest-running territorial conflicts.
According to Morocco’s foreign ministry, 29 countries have so far opened consulates in the Western Sahara cities of Laayoune and Dakhla in support of its claim. In the Western Hemisphere, Haiti, Suriname, and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have already taken similar steps.
“Paraguay’s decision reflects growing international recognition of Morocco’s efforts to promote peace, stability, and development in the region,” the statement added.
Within the United Nations Security Council, Morocco’s autonomy plan enjoys strong backing from the United States, France, and the United Kingdom. Several European nations have also voiced support, though the European Union as a bloc continues to favour a negotiated political settlement under U.N. auspices.
Diplomatic observers say Paraguay’s move underscores Rabat’s widening influence beyond Africa and the Arab world, extending into Latin America’s traditionally non-aligned states.
