Moroccan Sahara: Burkina Faso Reaffirms Support for Morocco’s Territorial Integrity, Backs Autonomy Plan

The minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabè Abroad, Mrs. Olivia Ragnaghnewendé Rouamba, reiterated Burkina Faso’s support for the territorial integrity and national unity of Morocco as well as for the Moroccan autonomy plan, “which constitutes the only credible and realistic solution” for the settlement of the dispute over the Sahara. In a joint statement made public following her discussions on Friday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Mr. Nasser Bourita, Mrs. Ragnaghnewendé Rouamba noted that the Moroccan Initiative for Autonomy represents “a credible and serious way for the settlement of the conflict over the Sahara”. The Burkinabe top diplomat also hailed the efforts of the United Nations as the exclusive framework for achieving a realistic, practical and lasting solution to the dispute over the Sahara. She expressed, in this regard, her country’s support for the search for a lasting solution to this issue, which preserves the territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco, under the exclusive aegis of the United Nations and in compliance with decision 693 of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union of July 2018. For his part, Mr. Bourita seized this opportunity to welcome Burkina Faso’s participation in the ministerial conference in support of the Autonomy Initiative under the sovereignty of Morocco organized virtually on January 15, 2021, at the invitation of the Kingdomof Morocco and the United States of America. The minister also commended the strengthening of relations of cooperation between the two countries and welcomed the opening by Burkina Faso of its Consulate General in Dakhla in October 2020 and the appointment of a Consul General.