Ecuador has officially expressed its support for Morocco's autonomy initiative for the disputed Western Sahara region. The announcement was made during a visit by Ecuador's Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld to Rabat on April 17, 2026, where she met with her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita.
As part of this diplomatic move, Ecuador inaugurated a consulate general in the city of Dakhla, located in the southern part of Western Sahara. This action aligns Ecuador with a growing number of nations that have opened diplomatic missions in the territory, reinforcing Morocco's claim of sovereignty.
The Moroccan autonomy plan, proposed in 2007, offers Western Sahara self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty. The Polisario Front, which seeks full independence for the region, and its backer Algeria reject the plan. The United Nations continues to list Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory, with peacekeeping mission MINURSO monitoring a ceasefire.
Ecuador's decision marks a significant shift in its foreign policy regarding the decades-long conflict. The move is seen as a diplomatic victory for Morocco in its efforts to gain international recognition for its stance on Western Sahara.
