Ecuador has reaffirmed its support for Morocco's autonomy plan for the disputed territory of Western Sahara. The position was stated by Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld during a meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat on April 17, 2026.
According to a joint communiqué, Sommerfeld described Morocco's autonomy initiative as "serious and credible" and a basis for a solution under the auspices of the United Nations. The two ministers discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors.
The autonomy plan, proposed by Morocco in 2007, offers significant self-governance for the Western Sahara region while keeping it under Moroccan sovereignty. The Polisario Front, which seeks full independence for the territory, rejects the plan and insists on a referendum on self-determination.
Ecuador's stance aligns it with a growing number of nations, including the United States, that view the Moroccan plan as a viable solution. The UN continues to list Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory, with its peacekeeping mission, MINURSO, monitoring a ceasefire.
