1. Sahara autonomy plan support
2. Shift in diplomatic position
3. Historical context of support
4. Morocco’s regional diplomatic efforts

Peru’s incoming president Keiko Fujimori has swiftly outlined key priorities for her foreign policy following her closely contested election victory. One of the most significant decisions involves Peru’s stance on Morocco’s territorial integrity, a topic that gained prominence after Morocco’s ambassador to Peru, Amine Chaoudri, paid a congratulatory visit to the president-elect, delivering a letter from King Mohammed VI.

Sahara autonomy plan support

During the meeting in Lima, Fujimori’s team confirmed that Peru’s new government will support Morocco’s territorial integrity and its autonomy initiative for the Sahara. The president-elect emphasized her administration’s backing of UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which endorses Morocco’s autonomy proposal as a viable framework for resolving the regional dispute.

In a gesture of goodwill, the Moroccan ambassador presented Fujimori with a letter from the Moroccan monarch. In it, King Mohammed VI congratulated her on her election, expressing confidence in her ability to lead Peru toward development and prosperity. The letter also highlighted the strong ties between Morocco and Peru, rooted in mutual respect and shared values, and expressed a commitment to strengthening these bonds into a broader multilateral partnership for the benefit of both nations.

Shift in diplomatic position

Fujimori’s declaration is seen as a decisive break from the ambiguous policies of previous Peruvian governments, which often wavered between neutrality and outright support for the Polisario Front. Analysts note that this move aligns Peru with a growing regional consensus favoring Morocco’s position.

The shift is particularly striking given Peru’s historical engagement with the issue. During the second term of President Fernando Belaúnde Terry (1980–1985), Peru became one of the first countries to recognize the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1984. His successor, Alan García, formalized diplomatic relations with the SADR in 1987, a stance that persisted until Alberto Fujimori—Keiko Fujimori’s father—suspended the recognition in 1996.

Historical context of support

For the next 25 years, Peru’s policy on the Sahara remained unchanged under leaders such as Valentín Paniagua, Alejandro Toledo, Alejandro García’s second term, Ollanta Humala, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Martín Vizcarra, Manuel Merino, and Francisco Sagasti, all of whom maintained the status quo established by Alberto Fujimori.

The brief presidency of Pedro Castillo (July 2021–December 2022) briefly altered this trajectory. In September 2021, Castillo reinstated diplomatic relations with the Polisario Front. However, this decision was reversed in August 2022 by Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Mackat, who announced the withdrawal of recognition and the suspension of ties with the separatist entity while reaffirming Peru’s respect for Morocco’s territorial integrity. Yet, Castillo later overruled his minister, reinstating relations with the Polisario. His presidency ended abruptly in December 2022 following an attempted self-coup.

His successor, Dina Boluarte, maintained the ambiguity until September 2023, when she suspended diplomatic relations with the Polisario. However, she stopped short of withdrawing the SADR recognition granted in 1984 or endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan. Subsequent leaders, José Jeri and José María Balcázar, had short tenures and did not address the issue. Fujimori’s presidency signals a return to her father’s 1996 position, but with a stronger commitment to backing Morocco’s territorial sovereignty, the autonomy initiative, and UN Resolution 2797.

Morocco’s regional diplomatic efforts

Peru’s policy shift is part of a broader trend across Latin America, where Morocco has intensified its diplomatic engagement. Through economic, cultural, and educational cooperation, Morocco has strengthened ties with countries in the region, positioning itself as a strategic gateway connecting Africa, Europe, and the Arab world.

As a result, several nations that once recognized the SADR have since withdrawn their support or suspended diplomatic relations with the entity. Countries such as Colombia, Guatemala, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, El Salvador, Guyana, Ecuador, and Panama have realigned their positions in favor of Morocco’s stance.