Canada confirms Morocco autonomy plan as key to Western Sahara settlement

Canada “affirms recognition” of Morocco’s autonomy plan as a “basis for a mutually acceptable solution” to the regional conflict over the Sahara.

This position was expressed in a statement published on Tuesday in Ottawa by Canada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following a previous phone conversation between Anita Indira Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, and Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

The statement also underlined that, acknowledging “the importance” of the issue of Sahara to Morocco, Canada noted the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 2797 on October 31, 2025, and will act accordingly.

Emphasizing “the need to reach a lasting, just, and mutually acceptable political settlement in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions,” the Canadian ministry’s statement describes the autonomy plan presented by Morocco as “a serious and credible initiative in achieving a just and lasting settlement of the conflict.”

This shift in Canada’s position comes ahead of an “official visit to Morocco” by Minister Anand “in the coming weeks,” which will provide an opportunity “to further discuss the two countries’ relations and to deepen discussions on Sahara,” the statement concludes.

Switzerland also supports Morocco’s autonomy plan in the Sahara dispute

This statement comes a few days after the statement of the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councillor and Vice-President of the Swiss Confederation, who stated on April 24th in Bern that Switzerland “considers the autonomy initiative” put forward by Morocco “as the most serious, credible, and pragmatic basis” for resolving the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

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