Western Sahara: Polisario Front fears growing isolation
Growing support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara has led the Polisario Front to fear increasing diplomatic isolation, according to the pro-Moroccan Yabiladi and agencies on August 14th.
On August 9th, Colombia joined 130 nations backing the Moroccan Autonomy Plan, which would grant Western Sahara limited self-governance under Moroccan control.
The plan is widely perceived as a solution to the territorial dispute that has persisted since Spanish colonial rule ended in 1975.
However, the Algerian-backed Polisario Front has rejected the plan and claims to fight for self-determination for the Sahrawi people, who are indigenous to Western Sahara and have been displaced by decades of conflict.
Polisario supporters are concerned that Chile could join Colombia in supporting Moroccan sovereignty following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Chile’s Agriculture and Livestock Service (SAG) and Morocco’s National Food Safety Office (ONSSA).
The agreement seeks to strengthen cooperation on animal health, quarantine measures and phytosanitary protection to facilitate agri-food trade.
Reportedly, the Western Sahara could fall within the agreement’s scope.
Critics argue that the agreement could “normalise” Morocco’s “occupation” of the Western Sahara because the Dakhla port could serve as a gateway for Chilean products seeking access to African markets.
Dakhla is situated in the Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara and is viewed as a gateway for international trade with Africa.
Morocco and its allies have been accused of exploiting the resource-rich Western Sahara by Sahrawi activists, citing foreign investment in areas including renewable energy, which they claim is “greenwashing” Morocco’s occupation.
Since 1976, the Polisario Front has recognised the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), with which Colombia established ties in 1985.
While Chile has never recognised the SADR, Colombia has suspended and restored ties since 1985; however, the country’s support for Moroccan sovereignty suggests that it has now rejected the SADR.
Across Latin America, support for the SADR is reportedly wavering, despite historical support for the Polisario Front and Algeria from countries including Venezuela.
Panama endorsed the Moroccan Autonomy Plan in June 2025, while Brazil sought to deepen its economic relationship with Morocco in July 2025.
In September 2025, Paraguay announced its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara.
Yabiladi and agencies, Maghrebi.org
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