Peru has cut diplomatic ties with the Polisario Front-administered portion of disputed Western Sahara in favour of improved ties with Morocco.
"In the absence of an effective bilateral relationship to date, the Government of the Republic of Peru decides to withdraw the recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and to break all relations with this entity," the Foreign Ministry statement announced on Thursday.
Instead, Lima and Rabat will sign "a multisectoral roadmap covering regular political consultations, effective cooperation in economic, commercial, educational, energy, agriculture and fertiliser matters," the statement said.
The break came just 11 months after diplomatic relations were reestablished under leftist President Pedro Castillo.
The decision followed a "recent telephone conversation" between Peru's Foreign Minister, Miguel Rodriguez Mackay, and Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, the ministry said in a statement.
The two nations decided to "strengthen their bilateral relations," it added and underscored that Peru "values and respects the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco and its national sovereignty."
The disputed status of Western Sahara –– a former Spanish colony considered a "non-self-governing territory" by the United Nations –– has pitted Morocco against the Polisario Front since the 1970s.
Rabat, which controls nearly 80 percent of the territory, is pushing for autonomy under its sovereignty.
The Polisario Front, however, wants a referendum on self-determination.
Morocco and neighbouring Algeria too are at odds over Western Sahara. Algiers backs Polisario Front and broke off diplomatic ties with Morocco in August 2021 while accusing Rabat of "hostile acts".
READ MORE: US backs Morocco's plan to grant autonomy to rebellious Western Sahara
US involvement
Peru and the Western Saharan territory reestablished official ties in September last year in one of Castillo's first diplomatic acts.
They had previously been suspended since 1996 under Moroccan pressure.
The Western Sahara conflict, which had been largely frozen since a 1991 ceasefire, flared again in late 2020 when the Polisario declared the truce null and void over Morocco's military operation inside the UN-patrolled buffer zone.
The same year, the administration of then-US president Donald Trump recognised Morocco's sovereignty over the territory in a deal that saw the kingdom mend ties with Israel.
The African Union recognises the SADR as a member.
READ MORE: Morocco king calls for ties reset with 'brotherly' Algeria
Source: AFP
Morocco's King Mohammed VI has used an address to "once again" reiterate his openness to restoring ties with Algeria, which broke off diplomatic relations with Rabat last year.
"We aspire to work with the Algerian presidency so that Morocco and Algeria can work hand in hand to establish normal relations between two brotherly peoples," Mohammed said on Saturday during the traditional speech marking the anniversary of his accession to the throne.
"I stress once again that the borders that separate the Moroccan and Algerian brothers will never be barriers preventing their interaction and understanding."
He urged Moroccans to "preserve the spirit of fraternity, solidarity and good neighbourliness towards our Algerian brothers".
Referring to "allegations that Moroccans insult Algeria and Algerians", Mohammed said they were the work of "irresponsible individuals who are trying to sow discord".
"This gossip about Moroccan-Algerian relations is totally senseless and frankly appalling," he added.
Western Sahara dispute
Morocco and Algeria have long been at odds over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, where the Algiers-backed Polisario Front is seeking independence from Rabat's rule.
Algeria broke off diplomatic relations with Morocco in August 2021, accusing Rabat of "hostile acts".
The decision was "completely unjustified," Rabat said.
The disputed status of Western Sahara –– a former Spanish colony considered a "non-autonomous territory" by the United Nations –– has pitted Morocco against the Polisario Front since the 1970s.
Rabat, which controls nearly 80 percent of the territory, is pushing for autonomy under its sovereignty.
The Polisario Front, however, wants a UN-sponsored referendum on self-determination.
READ MORE: Algeria accuses Morocco of carrying 'targeted killings' in border region
Ties with Israel
Morocco's sovereignty over the territory was backed by Washington in a 2020 deal that also saw Rabat normalise ties with Israel.
Algeria, which supports the Palestinian cause in addition to the Front, has taken the opportunity to criticise Morocco's growing military cooperation with Israel, which it refers to as the "Zionist entity".
The king also used Saturday's speech to pledge reform of the family code in favour of women's rights, social protections and price controls at a time of rising inflation.
The reformist king, 58, has ruled Morocco since July 1999, when he succeeded his father, Hassan II.
READ MORE: US backs Morocco's plan to grant autonomy to rebellious Western Sahara
Source: AFP
Rabat — The 14th US-Africa Business Summit 2022, which took place from July 19 to 22 in Marrakech, was a success, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Participants in this summit, organized under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, were able to exchange during 3 days around the opportunities to strengthen industrial links, investment and trade between our continent and the United States, said the ministry in a statement.
This event brought together senior U.S. and African government officials from more than 50 countries, 6 FMs and over 20 ministers representing different sectors, in addition to representatives of U.S. and African government agencies, investment and pension funds and international and regional organizations.
The summit gathered more than 1,500 participants, 80% of which were from the major U.S. and African business communities and 40% of which were women.
The event was divided into 37 sessions dealing with issues of health and food sovereignty, innovation, new technologies, energy and infrastructure, topics covered by more than 200 representatives of national and African media, the same source said, according to the same source.
This event, which was attended by more than 450 U.S. economic operators including Pfizer, Visa, Citi, Procter & Gamble, Chevron, Coca Cola, Google and major African groups, has achieved more than 5,000 connections with many business contracts signed.
This summit was an opportunity for Morocco to consolidate its role as a bridge between Africa and the United States and to encourage the construction of a forward-looking African economy, drawing strength from its integration into the global system and international value chains.
The closing plenary of the event, organized under the theme "Building the Future Together," provided an opportunity to collectively reflect on the future of a promising continent at all levels.
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On this occasion, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, emphasized the vision of His Majesty the King in adopting "a coherent and integrated policy towards our African brothers, based on a joint investment of wealth, human development and strengthening economic cooperation."
Despite a difficult context full of challenges and marked by the reconfiguration of the international economy, Africa has all the assets to be an active player and better integrate into the global value chains and transformation.
African companies have a key role to play and are called upon to take commercial risks to seize the opportunities offered by a larger market by expanding their manufacturing base.
"Our priorities as African countries must be to put sovereignty at the heart of all sector strategies and to see it as a priority for securing supply and employment. We must commit to encouraging local manufacturing, creating strategic reserves for certain key products, and diversifying sources of supply for energy and food," Mezzour said.
