Panama Endorses Moroccan Autonomy Plan as Only Viable Solution for Sahara Dispute

Rabat, June 16, 2025 — In a significant diplomatic development, the Republic of Panama has declared its firm support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative as the “most serious, credible, and realistic basis” to resolve the long-standing regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

The statement came during a high-level meeting in Rabat between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Panama’s Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, who is on an official visit to the Kingdom. The two officials signed a Joint Communiqué confirming Panama’s endorsement of Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan, emphasizing it as the “only solution for the future” of the disputed territory.

During a press briefing, Minister Martínez-Acha Vásquez reaffirmed Panama’s commitment to supporting Morocco’s territorial integrity. He described the autonomy proposal as a forward-looking framework capable of bringing a lasting and peaceful resolution to the Sahara issue. He underscored Panama’s recent decision to cut all ties with the so-called “sadr” (self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic) in November 2024 as a clear signal of his country’s evolving position.

“The autonomy initiative presented by Morocco should be the only solution for the future,” stated Martínez-Acha Vásquez, stressing the need for realistic diplomacy grounded in sovereignty and unity.

In their joint declaration, both nations reiterated their shared values of respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling for constructive dialogue and regional cooperation to promote peace and stability across North Africa.

Panama’s support adds to the growing list of countries and international institutions that now back Morocco’s autonomy plan, which proposes broad self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty for the southern provinces. The move is widely seen as a blow to the legitimacy of the Polisario Front, which has faced mounting criticism over alleged human rights abuses and ties to extremist elements in the Sahel region.

This alignment between Rabat and Panama marks not only a deepening of bilateral relations but also a wider international shift toward more pragmatic and solution-oriented approaches to one of Africa’s most enduring territorial disputes.