1. Bénin
2. Ghana

During back-to-back bilateral meetings with delegations from Bénin and Ghana, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, urged both nations to support Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara.

This initiative aims to provide a credible and realistic solution to the decades-long dispute over the region’s sovereignty.

Bénin

The seventh session of the Morocco-Bénin Joint Cooperation Commission, held in Cotonou, concluded on July 21 with a joint declaration reaffirming Bénin’s unwavering support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, including over the Sahara region.

Bénin’s stance underscores its firm backing for the Moroccan autonomy initiative, which the country views as the only viable path to resolving the Western Sahara conflict.

Led by Corinne Amori Brunet, Bénin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of African Integration, the delegation welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which endorses Morocco’s autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty as the foundation for a fair, lasting, and mutually acceptable settlement.

Brunet also announced plans for a fact-finding mission to Dakhla to assess the region’s economic and social progress and explore partnership opportunities. The next session of the joint commission will be held in Dakhla itself.

Ghana

Morocco’s Foreign Minister also participated in the second session of the Morocco-Ghana Joint Cooperation Commission. Ghana aligned itself with the growing international momentum recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara and backing the Moroccan autonomy plan, deemed the most pragmatic solution to a nearly 50-year-old conflict.

Ghana’s position was formalized in a joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of the Morocco-Ghana commission session.

Speaking to reporters, Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasized his country’s shift in stance, having previously supported the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Ghana now fully backs Morocco’s autonomy plan, describing it as the only realistic and sustainable basis for resolving the conflict.

This policy reversal reflects Africa’s broad support for Morocco’s proposal, already endorsed by 116 countries, representing over 60% of UN member states.

Ghana also confirmed its backing for UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which endorses the Secretary-General’s efforts and his personal envoy to facilitate negotiations based on Morocco’s autonomy initiative, aiming for a just, durable, and mutually acceptable settlement.

Bourita’s visit to Accra injected fresh momentum into bilateral relations. Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation across strategic sectors, including banking, housing, infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics, digital economy, mining, hydrocarbons, and agriculture.

Economically, the two ministers agreed to promote trade missions, business forums, and sector-specific trade fairs to boost commercial exchanges and strengthen payment balances. They also announced the creation of a periodic Morocco-Ghana Economic and Investment Forum, alternating its headquarters between the two countries.

Agriculture emerged as another key focus. Morocco’s OCP Group will supply fertilizers to enhance Ghana’s cocoa production, helping improve food security amid annual food import bills approaching $3 billion.

Ghana also reiterated its support for Morocco’s Atlantic Initiative, designed to facilitate landlocked Sahel countries’ access to global markets via the Atlantic Ocean. Accra remains engaged in the Atlantic Africa Gas Pipeline project, linking Nigeria to Morocco.