The Republic of Panama has officially declared its support for Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative as the “credible and realistic” framework for resolving the long-standing dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. The announcement came during a working visit by Panama’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez, to Rabat on June 16, 2025.
In a Joint Communiqué signed after talks with Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, both nations affirmed their shared commitment to sovereignty, territorial integrity, and mutual cooperation. The Panamanian diplomat emphasized that Morocco’s 2007 autonomy proposal should serve as the sole foundation for resolving the regional conflict, stating it offers a “realistic and practical solution for the future.”
Panama’s endorsement adds significant diplomatic weight to Morocco’s position, especially as the Central American nation currently holds a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. This backing follows Panama’s decision in November 2024 to sever ties with the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), a move interpreted as a strategic realignment in support of Morocco’s territorial claims.
The Moroccan Autonomy Initiative, presented to the United Nations in 2007, proposes granting the Sahara region a measure of self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty. The plan has received growing international support in recent years, with countries lauding it as a viable compromise in a dispute that has spanned decades.
During the joint press briefing, Martínez-Acha Vásquez reiterated Panama’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Morocco, noting that the two countries share values of peace, cooperation, and development. He also highlighted the importance of diplomacy in finding durable solutions to regional and global conflicts.
Morocco has welcomed Panama’s position as a reaffirmation of international momentum behind its autonomy plan. Rabat sees such support as a further blow to separatist movements and as a boost to its vision for a unified and stable region.
This development marks a deepening of Moroccan-Panamanian ties and signals growing international recognition of Rabat’s approach to resolving the Sahara issue through diplomacy and autonomy rather than prolonged conflict.
