1. Sahara autonomy plan support
2. Diplomatic shift from previous ambiguity
3. Evolution of Peru-Morocco relations
4. Morocco’s diplomatic offensive in Latin America

Peru’s newly elected president Keiko Fujimori has begun outlining key foreign policy priorities in the early weeks following her closely contested victory. Among the most significant is Peru’s stance on Morocco’s territorial integrity—a position that became particularly relevant during a recent meeting with Morocco’s ambassador to Peru, Amine Chaoudri, who delivered a congratulatory letter from King Mohammed VI.

Unwavering support for Western Sahara autonomy plan

In discussions with the Moroccan ambassador in Lima, Fujimori’s team confirmed the government’s decision to fully endorse Morocco’s territorial sovereignty and its autonomy initiative for Western Sahara. This stance aligns with UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which recognizes Morocco’s proposal as a viable framework for resolving the long-standing regional dispute.

During the meeting, Ambassador Chaoudri presented President Fujimori with a letter from King Mohammed VI, who expressed his “warmest congratulations” on her election, praising her leadership and the trust placed in her by the Peruvian people to advance national development and prosperity. The monarch also highlighted the “excellent relations” between Morocco and Peru, built on mutual respect, shared values, and a commitment to strengthening bilateral ties through enhanced multilateral cooperation for the benefit of both nations.

A decisive break from decades of ambiguity

Fujimori’s clear position marks a significant departure from the inconsistent policies of Peru’s previous administrations regarding the Sahara issue. Analysts view this as a strategic move to distance Peru from the ambiguity—or outright support for the Polisario Front—that characterized much of the country’s diplomatic history since the 1980s.

The Peruvian government’s recognition of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1984 under President Fernando Belaúnde Terry set the tone for decades of fluctuating policy. While his successor, Alan García, formalized diplomatic ties with the SADR in 1987, the situation shifted in 1996 when Alberto Fujimori—Keiko Fujimori’s father—suspended these relations.

For the next 25 years, Peru maintained a neutral stance under presidents Valentín Paniagua, Alejandro Toledo, Alan García’s second term, Ollanta Humala, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Martín Vizcarra, Manuel Merino, and Francisco Sagasti, neither recognizing the SADR nor endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan.

Peru-Morocco relations: A strategic realignment

The most recent fluctuations occurred during Pedro Castillo’s brief presidency (July 2021–December 2022), when Peru reinstated diplomatic relations with the Polisario Front in September 2021. This controversial decision was reversed in August 2022 by Foreign Minister Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Mackat, who announced the withdrawal of recognition and the severing of ties with the separatist group while reaffirming respect for Morocco’s territorial integrity. However, Castillo later reinstated relations with the Polisario, complicating the situation further before his eventual removal from office.

His successor, Dina Boluarte, maintained the status quo for several months before suspending relations with the Polisario in September 2023—without revoking the 1984 recognition of the SADR or endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan, leaving Peru’s position on the matter still somewhat ambiguous.

The brief tenures of José Jeri and José María Balcázar did little to address the issue. Fujimori’s presidency now signals a return to the position adopted by her father in 1996, going even further by explicitly supporting Morocco’s territorial integrity, sovereignty over Western Sahara, the autonomy initiative, and UN Resolution 2797.

Morocco’s growing diplomatic influence in Latin America

Peru’s policy shift reflects Morocco’s intensified diplomatic efforts across Latin America, where the Polisario Front once enjoyed considerable support. Through strengthened economic, cultural, and educational cooperation, Morocco has fostered closer ties with numerous countries in the region, positioning itself as a key gateway between Africa, Europe, and the Arab world.

This strategic outreach has led several nations—including Colombia, Guatemala, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, El Salvador, Guyana, Ecuador, and Panama—to either suspend recognition of the SADR or sever diplomatic relations with the separatist group entirely.