Finland backs Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara

Morocco and Finland moved to tighten political and economic ties while Helsinki renewed support for Rabat’s Sahara autonomy plan on March 1st, according to the Moroccan government-friendly Yabiladi and agencies.

Finland’s Foreign Minister, Elina Valtonen, met in Rabat with her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, in what both sides considered a historical moment.

Ties between Finland and Morocco started in 2024, when Finland first supported Morocco’s autonomy proposal, describing it as a “serious and credible” basis for settling the Western Sahara dispute within a UN-led process.

Since Spanish colonial rule of the region ended in 1975, the Western Sahara has been at the centre of a territorial dispute between Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, a separatist group that claims to fight for self-determination for the Sahrawi people, whose ancestral homeland is the disputed territory.

Under Morocco’s proposal, also known as Resolution 2797, the Western Sahara would be granted limited self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty; the plan received widespread support at a UN Security Council vote on October 31st, 2025.

By endorsing Moroccan sovereignty, Finland joined 130 other countries, including European Union member states, in backing Morocco’s autonomy plan.

Following the March 1st talks in Rabat, Valtonen and Bourita reaffirmed their commitment to expanding their cooperation across political and economic matters, indicating a shared desire to improve their coordination on regional disputes and diplomacy.

Bourita, speaking to reporters, stated the Rabat-Helsinki channel has “made tangible progress” since his visit to Finland, pointing to what he described as a more structured dialogue and closer alignment on priorities regarding Europe and Africa.

He noted Morocco’s support for Finland’s campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, describing it as part of a broader reciprocity between the two partners.

On the economic side, Moroccan officials say the diplomatic relations with Finland are translating into a fundamental commercial opportunity.

Bourita mentioned that around 40 Finnish companies are operating in Morocco across several sectors, reflecting growing interest in the Moroccan market and its role as an industrial and logistical hub linking Europe and Africa.

Trade flows also rose significantly between 2024 and 2025, with Rabat and Helsinki citing a 72% increase in exchanges over that period.

Looking ahead, Morocco and Finland signalled their intention to consolidate this plan through an extended program of government visits and business-focused meetings.

Yabiladi and agencies, Maghreb.org