Polisario loses Latin America ground as Morocco gains Sahara support

The Polisario Front is becoming increasingly isolated on the international stage as more countries declare their support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara or back the autonomy initiative submitted by the Kingdom in 2007 as a basis for resolving the dispute. These shifts are particularly visible in Latin America, which for years was considered one of Polisario’s main strongholds of political and diplomatic support and a key arena for its external influence.

That equation, however, has begun to change in recent years, after Morocco achieved a series of diplomatic breakthroughs in the region that have helped redraw the map of positions on the Sahara issue and prompted a number of countries to review their previous stances toward the separatist front.

Colombia was among the latest countries to change its position on Polisario. The new government decided to freeze relations with the so-called “Sahrawi Republic,” before going further by announcing its support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, as well as its commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Kingdom in trade, investment, food security, port infrastructure, and transatlantic connectivity.

Before that, Peru decided in September 2023 to sever ties with Polisario’s “Republic.” Last July, the Office of President-elect Keiko Fujimori confirmed that the Peruvian government is committed to supporting the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco and its sovereignty over its southern provinces.

In 2024, the Republic of Ecuador decided to suspend its recognition of the “Sahrawi Republic,” which it had recognized in 1983 before allowing the opening of an “embassy” in 2009. The move helped open a new chapter in relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Latin American country.

In February of this year, Bolivia decided to suspend diplomatic relations with Polisario’s “Republic” and halt all official contact, affirming its support for international efforts to reach a realistic, pragmatic, and lasting political solution based on compromise, in line with the parameters set by the United Nations.

Two months later, the Republic of Honduras announced the suspension of its recognition of the “Sahrawi Republic,” saying the move was “a sovereign decision by Honduras, based on its commitment to the principles of non-interference and respect for the internal sovereignty of other states.” Honduras also reaffirmed its full support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to seek a just and lasting political solution, as well as its commitment to UN Security Council resolutions, particularly Resolution 2797.

Chile, Brazil, and Argentina: Positions Closer to Morocco

In Chile, which has never recognized Polisario, the rapprochement with Morocco has been clear, especially after José Antonio Kast, founder of the Republican Party, came to power last March. A few weeks ago, formal negotiations were launched on a free trade agreement between the two countries. Polisario fears that the agreement could include the Sahara territories, which would amount to implicit recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.

In Brazil, official and political discourse in recent years has increasingly leaned toward supporting Morocco’s efforts and its autonomy proposal. The Workers’ Party, to which President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva belongs, has previously stated that Morocco’s autonomy plan is grounded in the principles of dialogue and international law and could help improve the well-being of the populations concerned.

Argentina, for its part, also appears closer to Morocco’s positions under the right-leaning government of President Javier Milei, leaving Polisario with limited room to push Buenos Aires toward positions supportive of its cause.

The changes witnessed across the region show that Morocco’s presence in Latin America is no longer limited to bilateral relations but has extended to regional institutions. In June 2022, Polisario warned the Andean Parliament against Moroccan attempts to secure institutional support for its position on the Sahara.

Just three years later, the Andean Parliament held a plenary session in Morocco, where its president described the Kingdom as a “strategic bridge between Africa, Europe, and Latin America.” The institution also announced its support for Morocco’s territorial integrity. On the same occasion, a parliamentary delegation visited the city of Laayoune.

Only a handful of Latin American countries still support the separatist front, most notably Mexico, as well as Venezuela, which is struggling with economic problems and whose president is imprisoned in the United States, in addition to Uruguay, led by left-wing President Yamandú Orsi.

Most Latin American countries increasingly view Morocco as a gateway to the African continent, benefiting from its strategic position on both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, its network of economic ties, and its growing presence in several African countries. This gives Rabat additional tools to strengthen its foothold in the region and link economic and trade cooperation to its strategic and diplomatic interests.