Eswatini Backs Morocco’s Sovereignty and Autonomy Plan for the Sahara

Madrid, Rabat, 29/10/2025 —

The Kingdom of Eswatini reaffirmed on Wednesday in Rabat its unwavering support for the Kingdom of Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its Sahara, reiterating its endorsement of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the “only credible, serious, and realistic solution” to the regional dispute.

This firm position was expressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Eswatini, Pholile Dlamini Shakantu, during the first session of the Morocco–Eswatini Joint Cooperation Commission. The session included talks with Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and highlighted the strong bilateral ties between the two kingdoms as well as their shared commitment to deepening multisectoral cooperation.

During the discussions, Minister Dlamini Shakantu reaffirmed Eswatini’s consistent and principled stance on the Moroccan Sahara issue, emphasizing her country’s full support for Morocco’s sovereignty and territorial integrity over its entire territory, including the Sahara region.

“The Kingdom of Eswatini stands firmly with the Kingdom of Morocco in defending its unity and sovereignty,” she stated, reaffirming her country’s backing of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan presented in 2007 as a framework that ensures stability, development, and cooperation across the region.

Eswatini’s position reflects the growing international consensus recognizing the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as a realistic and pragmatic basis for resolving the long-standing regional dispute under the auspices of the United Nations.

Notably, the Kingdom of Eswatini had opened a Consulate General in Laayoune in October 2020, further consolidating its support for Morocco’s sovereignty and reinforcing diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.

Both ministers underlined their shared vision of advancing South–South cooperation and strengthening collaboration in key sectors such as trade, investment, education, and sustainable development. The session concluded with a reaffirmation of the two countries’ commitment to deepening their partnership in the service of mutual prosperity and continental unity.

The meeting in Rabat thus marked a new milestone in Morocco–Eswatini relations, underscoring a partnership built on mutual respect, solidarity, and a shared commitment to peace and stability in Africa.