US ambassador says ‘honoured’ to host Moroccan Sahara officials

“We thank our partners from Laâyoune and Dakhla for their presence and their commitment to peace and the future of this region,” Richard Duke Buchan III, the US ambassador to Rabat, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday evening, June 11, 2026. He expressed his honour at having received elected officials from the southern provinces of the Moroccan Sahara during the celebration of 250 years of American independence.

Richard Duke Buchan III, Sidi Hamdi Oild Errechid, Ynja El Khattat et Moulay Hamdi Old Errechid. Rabat, le 9 juin 2026.

The accompanying photo shows the ambassador alongside Moulay Hamdi Old Errechid, president of the commune of Laâyoune; Ynja El Khattat, president of the council of the Dakhla Oued Eddahab region; and Sidi Hamdi Oild Errechid, president of the Laayoune Sakia El Hamra region.

Earlier, on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the US embassy organised a grand ceremony at Chellah in Rabat, attended by numerous Moroccan and international figures. During his speech, Ambassador Buchan III highlighted the Moroccan Sahara, stating: “We support the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, making the Moroccan Sahara a hub of partnership and transatlantic opportunities.” He also stressed the historical depth of Morocco-US relations: “This partnership, rooted in history, strengthened by trust, and resolutely turned towards the next 250 years, testifies to our commitment to reinforce the economic and human ties between our peoples.”