During consecutive bilateral engagements with delegations from Benin and Ghana, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad Nasser Bourita successfully lobbied for support of the country’s autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region.

Benin

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

In the declaration, Benin explicitly endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only credible and realistic solution to the Western Sahara dispute. The Beninese delegation was led by Foreign Minister Corinne Amori Brunet, who also welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 2797, which recognizes Morocco’s autonomy initiative as the basis for a just, lasting and mutually acceptable settlement.

The minister announced plans for an upcoming fact-finding mission to Dakhla to observe the region’s economic and social development firsthand and explore potential partnerships. Both countries agreed to hold the next session of the joint cooperation commission in Dakhla itself.

Ghana

Morocco’s foreign minister also participated in the second session of the Morocco-Ghana Joint Cooperation Commission, where Ghana joined the growing international consensus recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara and supporting its autonomy plan as the most realistic path to end the nearly five-decade conflict.

Ghana’s endorsement of this position was formalized in a joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of the Morocco-Ghana Joint Commission session. Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made the announcement during his meeting with Bourita.

Ghana’s decision in January 2025 to withdraw its official recognition of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and fully embrace Morocco’s autonomy plan—which Accra describes as the only realistic and sustainable basis for resolving the conflict—marks a significant shift in policy. This change underscores the broader support across Africa for Morocco’s proposal, which has already gained backing from 116 countries, representing over 60% of UN member states.

Ghana also formally endorsed UN Security Council resolution 2797, which provides full support to the UN Secretary-General and his personal envoy to facilitate negotiations based on Morocco’s autonomy proposal toward achieving a just, durable and mutually acceptable settlement.

Bourita’s visit to Accra has given fresh momentum to bilateral relations. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation in strategic sectors including banking, housing, infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics, digital economy, mining, hydrocarbons and agriculture.

Economically, the ministers agreed to promote trade missions, business matchmaking events and sector-specific trade fairs to boost bilateral trade and improve the balance of payments. They also announced the establishment of a Morocco-Ghana Economic and Investment Forum, to be held alternately in both countries on a periodic basis.

Agriculture represents another key area of partnership. Moroccan fertilizer producer OCP Group will supply products to enhance Ghana’s cocoa crop yields, supporting the country’s agricultural production amid its annual food import bill of approximately $3 billion.

Ghana also reiterated its support for Morocco’s Atlantic Initiative, aimed at facilitating landlocked Sahel countries’ access to international markets via the Atlantic Ocean. Accra remains engaged in the strategic Atlantic Africa Gas Pipeline project, designed to connect Nigeria to Morocco.