1. Sahara autonomy plan support
2. Shift from previous policy
3. Diplomatic shift in Peru
4. Morocco’s regional diplomacy

Peru’s newly elected president, Keiko Fujimori, has begun to outline key foreign policy priorities in the early weeks following her highly contested election victory. One of the most significant developments involves Peru’s stance on Morocco’s territorial integrity, a topic brought to the forefront during a meeting with Morocco’s ambassador to Peru, Amine Chaoudri, who delivered a congratulatory letter from King Mohammed VI.

Sahara autonomy plan support

According to a statement from the president-elect’s office, the meeting between Fujimori and Morocco’s ambassador resulted in Peru’s government formally endorsing Morocco’s territorial integrity and its autonomy plan for the Sahara. This endorsement extends to the UN Security Council’s Resolution 2797, which recognizes Morocco’s autonomy initiative as a viable framework for resolving the regional dispute.

During the meeting, the Moroccan ambassador presented Fujimori with a letter from King Mohammed VI, which read: « On the occasion of your election as President of the Republic of Peru, I am pleased to extend my warmest congratulations for the trust your people have placed in you to advance development and prosperity. » The King also highlighted « the excellent relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Peru, built on strong friendship, mutual respect, and shared values, » and expressed his commitment to « revitalizing these ties into a robust multilateral partnership for the benefit of our two friendly nations. »

Shift from previous policy

Fujimori’s position carries significant weight and marks a deliberate departure from the ambiguous stance of Peru’s previous governments on the Sahara issue. Analysts view this as a clear break from past administrations, some of which had openly supported the Polisario Front.

This shift traces back to the second term of former President Fernando Beláunde Terry (1980-1985), whose government recognized the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1984. His successor, Alan García, established diplomatic relations with the SADR in 1987, which lasted until 1996 when Alberto Fujimori—Keiko Fujimori’s father—suspended them. This status quo remained unchanged for the next 25 years under presidents Valentín Paniagua, Alejandro Toledo, Alan García’s second term, Ollanta Humala, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Martín Vizcarra, Manuel Merino, and Francisco Sagasti.

Diplomatic shift in Peru

During Pedro Castillo’s brief presidency (July 2021-December 2022), Peru restored diplomatic relations with the Polisario Front in September 2021. However, 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 entity while reaffirming respect for Morocco’s territorial integrity. Castillo later disavowed his minister, reinstating relations with the Polisario. Within months, Castillo was removed from office following an attempted power grab.

His successor, Dina Boluarte, maintained the status quo for the first months of her presidency. In September 2023, she suspended diplomatic relations with the Polisario without revoking the recognition granted by Fernando Belaúnde Terry in 1984 or endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan, leaving Peru’s position on the issue still ambiguous.

Her successors, José Jeri and José María Balcázar, served such short terms that they did not address the issue. Fujimori’s election now signals a return to the position adopted by her father in 1996, with an even stronger endorsement of Morocco’s territorial integrity, sovereignty over the Sahara, the autonomy initiative, and UN Security Council Resolution 2797.

Morocco’s regional diplomacy

Peru’s policy shift aligns with Morocco’s intensified diplomatic efforts across Latin America, where the Polisario Front had previously enjoyed significant support. This campaign has included economic, cultural, and educational cooperation, strengthening Morocco’s strategic role as a gateway to Africa, Europe, and the Arab world.

As a result, several countries that had recognized the self-proclaimed SADR have since suspended that recognition or severed diplomatic ties. These include Colombia, Guatemala, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, El Salvador, Guyana, Ecuador, and Panama.