Ecuador has reiterated its support for Morocco's proposed autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara region. The position was stated by Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld during a joint press conference with her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, in Rabat on April 17, 2026.
Sommerfeld described Morocco's autonomy initiative as a "serious and credible" effort to resolve the long-standing territorial dispute. The plan, first presented in 2007, offers the region self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty.
The Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony claimed by Morocco and the Polisario Front, which seeks full independence. The United Nations has led multiple rounds of negotiations, with the autonomy proposal being Morocco's central position. Ecuador's statement aligns it with a growing number of nations that have expressed support for the Moroccan plan in recent years.
The diplomatic reaffirmation came during a visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, including discussions on economic cooperation and investment. Morocco considers the Western Sahara an integral part of its territory, while the Polisario Front and its backer, Algeria, reject this claim.
