Belgium Backs Morocco’s Sahara Autonomy, Vows Concrete Action

Brussels, 23/10/2025

Belgium expressed its support on Thursday for the Autonomy Initiative presented by Morocco in 2007, affirming that the Sahara region should be placed “within the framework of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and national unity.” The Belgian government further announced its intention to act “as of now on diplomatic and economic plans in line with this position.”

This landmark stance was formalized in a joint statement signed by the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation, Maxime Prévot, at the conclusion of their meeting in Brussels.

In the joint communiqué, Belgium recognized “the existential importance of the Sahara issue” for Morocco and described the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative as “the most adequate, serious, credible and realistic basis to achieve a political solution” to the long-standing regional dispute.

For his part, Minister Bourita welcomed this “significant evolution of the Belgian position”, describing it as a “clear acknowledgement of the realistic and legitimate vision championed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, toward a definitive settlement of this regional dispute.”

Belgium’s endorsement represents an important development in the growing international alignment behind Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Initiative. The proposal, which seeks to grant substantial self-governance to the Sahara region under Moroccan sovereignty, has already garnered support from numerous countries across Europe, Africa, the Americas, and the Arab world.

This new Belgian stance further reflects the international momentum toward a pragmatic, stability-oriented approach, emphasizing dialogue, development, and regional cooperation. It also signals Belgium’s readiness to strengthen bilateral ties with Morocco through enhanced diplomatic coordination and new economic initiatives aligned with this position.

The decision marks a turning point in Belgian-Moroccan relations, reinforcing shared commitments to peace, partnership, and prosperity across the Euro-Mediterranean region.