Pacific Island Countries Recognize Moroccanness of the Sahara

Pacific Island countries reaffirmed on Friday their firm backing to Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over the Sahara, dealing another hard blow to Polisario and their Algerian mentor.

At the end of the third Morocco-Pacific Island States forum, held in Laayoune city, capital of the Moroccan Sahara, the Pacific Island countries said “we solemnly affirm that the Sahara region is an integral part of the Moroccan territory.”

In the “Laayoune Declaration” adopted by the forum, the Pacific Island States commended the Moroccan autonomy plan as “the one and only solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara”.

They voiced support to the efforts carried out “under the exclusive aegis of the United Nations to reach a realistic, pragmatic and lasting solution to this regional dispute, with full respect for Morocco’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty”.

The backing of Pacific Island States to Moroccan Sahara comes as Burundi and Djibouti opened on Friday consulates respectively in the Saharan cities of Laayoune and Dakhla.

The Comoros Islands, Sao Tome & Principe, Gabon, Central Africa Republic and Côte d’Ivoire have already installed their diplomatic missions in Laayoune, while Dakhla is hosting the consular representations of Gambia, Guinea-Conakry and Djibouti. Burkina Faso announced lately its decision to open its own consulate general in the Atlantic coastal city of Dakhla.

The diplomatic achievements made by Rabat, which is gaining a growing regional and international support for its territorial integrity, will certainly irk once again the polisario and Algerian leaders as they sense the failure of their cause and increasing international isolation.

Support for the Moroccan identity of the Sahara is constantly growing and stems from all regions of Africa, Moroccan Foreign Minister said during the opening of Burundi’s consulate general in Laayoune Friday.

This is proof of the credibility of the Moroccan position based on international law and the resolutions of the UN Security Council, he said.

“Unfortunately, a lonely state is at odds with this orientation, which shows its involvement and direct responsibility in this issue”, he said, alluding to Algeria. This “country” has made the Sahara issue the “number one priority of its diplomacy,” he said.