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Burundi reiterated its unconditional support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over all its territory, including its provinces in Western Sahara, during a high-level diplomatic meeting in Rabat on Thursday (10th October 2024). Burundi, which opened its consulate in Laayoune in 2020, has reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s territorial integrity amid growing African backing for Rabat’s position.
Burundian Foreign Minister Albert Shingiro, in his meeting with Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, reaffirmed Burundi’s backing of Morocco’s Autonomy as the only credible and realistic solution for resolving the regional dispute over Western Sahara. Shingiro also praised United Nations efforts as the “exclusive framework” for reaching a realistic and durable solution to the issue.
Commenting on Burundi’s reaffirmation, Algerian political analyst Oualid Kebir noted on social media that it represented a “strong slap” to Algeria’s diplomatic efforts. Kebir suggested that Algeria’s attempts to sway Burundi’s position had failed despite recent diplomatic overtures.
This latest diplomatic endorsement comes after Burundi opened a consulate general in Laayoune, the largest city in Western Sahara, in February 2020. At the time, it was the sixth diplomatic representation opened in Laayoune in less than three months, signaling growing African support for Morocco’s position. The number of African countries backing Morocco’s stance has continued to rise. Most recently, Chad opened a consulate in Dakhla on August 14, bringing the total number of countries with diplomatic missions in Morocco’s southern territory to 29. Within this context, the Moroccan Center for Parallel Diplomacy and Civilizational Dialogue, in its latest report, highlighted Morocco’s return to the African Union (AU) in 2017 as a strategic move that bolstered its diplomatic efforts regarding Western Sahara. The center’s report outlined Morocco’s challenges within the AU, including navigating legal and political complexities related to the presence of the Polisario Front in the organization. According to the center, Morocco’s goal of expelling the Polisario from the AU requires creating a “broad African front” supportive of Morocco’s position.
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The report suggests this could be achieved through pragmatic relationships, economic and security partnerships, and coordinated efforts with African allies within AU structures. The Moroccan Center for Parallel Diplomacy and Civilizational Dialogue also emphasized the need for Morocco to prepare a detailed legal case challenging the Polisario’s eligibility for AU membership, focusing on its lack of UN recognition as a state and its disputed claim to represent the Sahrawi people.
