1. support for the Sahara autonomy plan
2. end of diplomatic ambiguity
3. moroccan diplomatic offensive

Peru’s newly elected president, Keiko Fujimori, has begun outlining key priorities for her foreign policy in the weeks following her highly contested election victory. One of the most significant shifts involves the country’s stance on Morocco’s territorial integrity, a matter brought into focus during a meeting with Morocco’s ambassador to Peru, Amine Chaoudri, who delivered a congratulatory letter from King Mohammed VI.

support for the Sahara autonomy plan

According to a statement from the president-elect’s office, Fujimori informed the ambassador that her administration would formally support Morocco’s territorial integrity and its autonomy plan for Western Sahara. She also conveyed her government’s backing for UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which recognizes Morocco’s autonomy initiative as a viable path toward resolving the long-standing regional dispute.

During the meeting, the Moroccan ambassador presented Fujimori with a letter from King Mohammed VI, in which the monarch congratulated her on her election and expressed his commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. The king emphasized the strong historical ties between Morocco and Peru, built on mutual respect and shared values, and pledged to deepen cooperation for the benefit of both nations.

end of diplomatic ambiguity

Fujimori’s position carries significant weight, as it signals a decisive break from previous Peruvian administrations that had maintained an ambiguous stance on Western Sahara—some even openly supporting the Polisario Front. This shift marks a return to the policy adopted by her father, former President Alberto Fujimori, who suspended diplomatic recognition of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1996.

Before that, Peru’s recognition of the SADR dated back to 1984 under President Fernando Belaúnde Terry, with diplomatic relations formally established in 1987 under President Alan García. These ties persisted until Fujimori Sr. reversed course in 1996, a policy maintained by subsequent leaders including Valentín Paniagua, Alejandro Toledo, Alan García, Ollanta Humala, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Martín Vizcarra, Manuel Merino, and Francisco Sagasti.

However, relations briefly shifted again during Pedro Castillo’s presidency (July 2021–December 2022), when diplomatic ties with the Polisario were restored in September 2021. This decision, later reversed by Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Mackat in August 2022, was reinstated by Castillo before his removal from office following an attempted power grab. His successor, Dina Boluarte, maintained the status quo until September 2023, when she suspended relations with the Polisario without formally revoking the SADR recognition or endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan.

moroccan diplomatic offensive

Peru’s policy reversal aligns with Morocco’s intensified diplomatic efforts across Latin America, where the Polisario had previously enjoyed considerable support. Through expanded economic, cultural, and academic cooperation, Morocco has cultivated stronger ties with multiple countries in the region, positioning itself as a key gateway to Africa, Europe, and the Arab world.

As a result, several nations that had recognized the SADR have since withdrawn their recognition or severed diplomatic ties, including Colombia, Guatemala, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, El Salvador, Guyana, Ecuador, and Panama.