Peru’s Fujimori backs Morocco’s Sahara autonomy plan
Peru’s Fujimori backs Morocco’s Sahara autonomy plan
- Peru’s newly elected President Keiko Fujimori confirms support for UN Security Council Resolution 2797 to Morocco’s Ambassador
- This marks a historic shift from decades of Peruvian alignment with the Polisario Front
- Sahara autonomy support takes center stage
- End of diplomatic ambiguity in Peru
- Peru’s diplomatic shift toward Morocco
- Morocco’s growing influence in Latin America
Peru’s newly elected President Keiko Fujimori is rapidly defining key priorities for her future foreign policy following her closely contested election victory.
One of the most significant developments involves Peru’s stance on Morocco’s territorial integrity, a topic brought to the forefront during a meeting with Morocco’s Ambassador to Peru, Amine Chaoudri. The ambassador presented a congratulatory letter from King Mohammed VI to President Fujimori.
Sahara autonomy support takes center stage
According to statements from the President-elect’s office, during her meeting with the Moroccan ambassador in Lima, President Fujimori confirmed her government’s decision to support Morocco’s territorial integrity and its autonomy plan for the Sahara.
She also pledged Peru’s backing for UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which endorses Morocco’s autonomy initiative as a foundation for a lasting solution to the regional dispute.
The Moroccan ambassador presented President Fujimori with a letter from King Mohammed VI, in which the Moroccan monarch expressed his “warmest congratulations” on her election as President of Peru. The letter highlighted her ability to “earn the trust of the Peruvian people to advance development and prosperity.”
The King also praised the “excellent relations” between Morocco and Peru, built on strong friendship, mutual respect, and shared values. He expressed his commitment to “giving new impetus” to these relations, elevating them to a strategic partnership that benefits both nations.
End of diplomatic ambiguity in Peru
President Fujimori’s stance carries significant weight and has been interpreted by analysts as a decisive break from previous Peruvian governments, which had maintained an ambiguous or even supportive stance toward the Polisario Front.
Peru’s recognition of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) dates back to the second term of President Fernando Belaúnde Terry (1980-1985). His successor, Alan García, established diplomatic relations with the SADR in 1987, a relationship that persisted until 1996.
In 1996, Alberto Fujimori—father of the current president—suspended these relations, a decision that remained unchanged for the next 25 years under successive governments led by Valentín Paniagua, Alejandro Toledo, Alan García (second term), Ollanta Humala, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Martín Vizcarra, Manuel Merino, and Francisco Sagasti.
Peru’s diplomatic shift toward Morocco
During the brief presidency of Pedro Castillo (July 2021–December 2022), Peru re-established diplomatic relations with the Polisario Front in September 2021. This controversial move was reversed in August 2022 by Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Mackat, who announced the withdrawal of recognition and the severing of ties with the separatist group while reaffirming respect for Morocco’s territorial integrity.
However, President Castillo later overruled his minister and reinstated relations with the Polisario. His presidency ended shortly after when he was removed from office following an attempted self-coup. His successor, Dina Boluarte, maintained the status quo for months before suspending diplomatic relations with the Polisario in September 2023. She stopped short of withdrawing the SADR recognition granted in 1984 by Fernando Belaúnde Terry or endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan, leaving Peru’s position on the issue still ambiguous.
Subsequent short-lived administrations under José Jeri and José María Balcázar did not address the issue. With Fujimori’s presidency, Peru is poised to return to the position adopted by her father in 1996—and go further by fully supporting Morocco’s territorial integrity, sovereignty over the Sahara, the autonomy initiative, and UN Security Council Resolution 2797.
Morocco’s growing influence in Latin America
Peru’s policy shift aligns with Morocco’s intensified diplomatic efforts across Latin America, where the Polisario Front had previously enjoyed significant support.
Morocco’s diplomatic push—bolstered by economic, cultural, and educational cooperation—has strengthened its ties with multiple countries in the region. This strategy highlights Morocco’s strategic role as a gateway to Africa, Europe, and the Arab world.
As a result, several nations that had previously recognized the self-proclaimed SADR have either suspended recognition or severed diplomatic ties. Countries such as Colombia, Guatemala, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, El Salvador, Guyana, Ecuador, and Panama have reversed their positions in recent years.