Morocco continues to gather African support over Sahara conflict

The Republic of Burundi reaffirmed its support for Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara during a visit by the Foreign Minister to Rabat, reports Atalayar on June 20th.

Minister Edouard Bizimana met his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, to discuss regional issues, and he confirmed his country’s support for the Moroccan autonomy plan, which the Kingdom has been developing since the UN Security Council vote on Western Sahara in October 2025.

Resolution 2797 recognises the Moroccan plan as a “most feasible” solution, and it has gathered wide support across Europe and Africa, with a large number of African states siding with Morocco on the longstanding conflict.

Under these plans, Sahrawi people exiled in Algeria would be allowed to return to Morocco, and the region would have a degree of autonomy under the umbrella of Moroccan sovereignty.

The Cherifian Kingdom has been efficiently rallying support with a succession of official visits: Guinea-Bissau’s Foreign Minister met Bourita in May to reiterate his country’s position on the issue, and Gabon also sent its top diplomat to Rabat in April.

Bourita met French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in March in Paris, with France reaffirming its position on the conflict and supporting the autonomy plans.

Meanwhile, Sahel countries including Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have also backed the Moroccan plans, despite being historically closer to Algeria.

Mali had previously expressed its support for the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), making its withdrawal particularly disappointing for the Polisario Front militias and its backer Algeria.

The increasing support for Morocco has left Algeria increasingly isolated on the international stage, while Donald Trump has been pressing for a quick resolution to the conflict.

After several rounds of negotiations presided over by the US and the UN’S Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, talks are still taking place to encourage the Sahrawi side to accept the Resolution and come to an agreement to end the conflict.

Atalayar, Maghrebi.org