Sahara: Bolivia Abandons Polisario, Separatists’ Isolation Deepens

The government of Bolivia has decided to suspend its recognition of the self-proclaimed “SADR” and cut all ties with the Algerian-backed Polisario separatist group, deepening their international isolation.

The move was announced on Monday by the Bolivian ministry of foreign Affairs. In a press release, this South American country said “it adopts constructive neutrality” regarding the Sahara issue and supports the efforts engaged by the UN and the international community for “a just, durable and mutually acceptable political solution” to this regional conflict.

Bolivia is determined to build a “new relationship with Morocco, based on mutual respect of national sovereignty and territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of both countries”, says the press release.

Bolivia’s move comes following the diplomatic rapprochement between Morocco and the South American country since the fall of the dictatorship of Evo Morales in November 2019.

Bolivia’s decision deals another hard blow to the Tindouf-based separatists who have already been abandoned by Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Peru, El Salvador, Barbados… All these Latin American countries support Morocco’s territorial integrity and the UN-led exclusive political process for a lasting resolution of the Sahara issue.

In his speech made on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the Green March, celebrated on Nov.6, King Mohammed VI said that more than 163 countries, the majority of UN member states, do not recognize the fictitious entity, which is funded, armed and sheltered by the Algerian regime.

The growing international support for the Moroccanness of the Sahara has also been confirmed by the partnerships and agreements covering the Sahara, which have been signed by Morocco with influential powers and many sisterly countries, underlined the Monarch.

Lately, several African countries have also reaffirmed their support to Morocco’s territorial integrity and their backing to the Sahara as being an integral part of Morocco by opening consulates in the southern Moroccan cities of Laayoune and Dakhla.

Just last Friday, Gabon and Guinea inaugurated their diplomatic representations in Laâyoune and Dakhla, respectively.

Gambia also opened a consulate in Dakhla earlier this month, while the consulate general of the Comoros in Laâyoune has started providing its services since December 2019.