During sequential bilateral meetings with delegations from Bénin and Ghana, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad, Nasser Bourita, sought support for the country’s autonomy plan for the Sahara region.

Bénin

The seventh session of the Morocco-Bénin Joint Cooperation Commission, held in Cotonou, concluded on July 21 with a joint declaration reaffirming Bénin’s unwavering support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its entire territory, including the Sahara region.

In the joint statement, the Republic of Bénin reiterated its endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only credible and realistic solution to resolve the Western Sahara issue.

The Béninese delegation was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of the Integration of People of African Descent, Corinne Amori Brunet, who welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which recognizes Morocco’s autonomy initiative as a just, durable and mutually acceptable basis for resolving the dispute.

She announced that a fact-finding mission will soon visit Dakhla to witness firsthand the economic and social development in the region and explore potential on-the-ground partnerships. Both parties agreed that the next session of the Joint Cooperation Commission will take place in Dakhla itself.

Ghana

Morocco’s Foreign Minister also participated in the second session of the Morocco-Ghana Joint Cooperation Commission. Ghana officially aligned itself with the growing international momentum recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara and supporting the Moroccan autonomy plan, widely regarded as the most realistic path to end the decades-long conflict.

Ghana’s position was formalized in a joint communiqué issued with Morocco following the commission’s session.

Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, conveyed this stance during his meeting with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita.

It is worth noting that Ghana withdrew its official support for the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in January 2025 and has since taken a definitive step forward by unreservedly backing Morocco’s autonomy plan, which it considers the only realistic and sustainable basis for resolving the conflict.

This shift in Ghana’s position, which previously maintained ties with the Polisario Front, underscores the overwhelming support across Africa for Morocco’s proposal. The plan has already garnered backing from 116 countries, representing over 60% of UN member states.

Ghana also expressed its support for UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which fully endorses the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy’s efforts to facilitate negotiations based on Morocco’s autonomy proposal, aiming for a just, lasting and mutually acceptable settlement.

Nasser Bourita’s visit to Accra also gave new impetus to Morocco-Ghana bilateral relations. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation in strategic sectors such as banking, housing, infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics, digital economy, mining, hydrocarbons and agriculture.

Economically, both ministers agreed to promote trade missions, business networking events and sector-specific trade fairs to boost commercial exchanges and strengthen balance of payments. They also announced the establishment of a Morocco-Ghana Economic and Investment Forum, to be held periodically with alternate hosting between the two countries.

Food security emerged as another key area of collaboration. OCP Group’s fertilizers will enhance Ghana’s cocoa crop yields and bolster agricultural production in the country, which currently depends heavily on food imports valued at approximately $3 billion annually.

Ghana also reiterated its support for Morocco’s Atlantic Initiative, designed to facilitate landlocked Sahel countries’ access to international markets via the Atlantic Ocean. Accra remains committed to the Atlantic Africa Gas Pipeline project, connecting Nigeria to Morocco.