Bulgaria has announced its support for Morocco's autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region, according to a joint statement released on July 28, 2026, following talks between Moroccan and Bulgarian officials. The move aligns Bulgaria with several other European Union member states that have backed the Moroccan initiative as a serious and credible solution to the long-standing dispute.
The Bulgarian position was conveyed during a meeting between Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita and his Bulgarian counterpart, Ivan Kondov, in Rabat. The statement emphasized Bulgaria's view that the autonomy plan, presented by Morocco in 2007, offers a realistic framework for a political resolution under the auspices of the United Nations.
This endorsement comes amid a broader trend of international support for Morocco's stance on the Sahara issue. In recent years, countries such as Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands have also expressed backing for the autonomy plan, which proposes self-governance for the region while maintaining Moroccan sovereignty.
The United Nations continues to facilitate negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front, the Algeria-backed group seeking independence for Western Sahara. The conflict has been ongoing since the 1970s, with the UN considering the territory a 'non-self-governing territory.'
Bulgaria's decision is expected to further strengthen Morocco's diplomatic position and could encourage other EU nations to adopt similar positions. The move also reflects Bulgaria's commitment to supporting UN-led efforts to find a mutually acceptable political solution to the Sahara dispute.
