During back-to-back bilateral meetings with delegations from Benin and Ghana, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, successfully sought their support for the kingdom’s autonomy plan for the Sahara region.

Benin

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

Benin’s government explicitly endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only credible and realistic solution to the Western Sahara conflict. This position was formally stated by Benin’s Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of Integration of People of African Descent, Corinne Amori Brunet, who welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797.

Minister Brunet confirmed plans for an upcoming fact-finding mission to Dakhla to witness firsthand the region’s economic and social development and explore potential ground-level partnerships. Both nations agreed that the next session of the joint cooperation commission would be held in Dakhla itself.

Ghana

The Moroccan 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 the Western Sahara and supporting its autonomy plan, widely regarded as the most pragmatic path to ending a decades-old conflict.

Ghana’s position was formalized in a joint communiqué issued at the conclusion of the Morocco-Ghana Joint Commission session. This was emphasized by Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa during his meeting with his Moroccan counterpart.

Notably, Ghana withdrew its official support for the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in January 2025 and has since taken a definitive step forward by unreservedly backing Morocco’s autonomy plan, which it describes as “the only realistic and sustainable basis” for resolving the conflict.

This shift in Ghana’s position, which previously maintained ties with the Polisario Front, underscores the strong support across the African continent for Morocco’s proposal. The plan has already garnered backing from 116 countries, representing over 60% of UN member states.

Additionally, Ghana expressed full support for UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which backs the secretary-general and his personal envoy in facilitating negotiations based on Morocco’s autonomy proposal to achieve a just, durable, and mutually acceptable settlement.

Nasser Bourita’s visit to Accra has given fresh impetus to bilateral relations between Morocco and Ghana. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation in strategic sectors such as banking, housing, infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics, digital economy, mining, hydrocarbons, and agriculture.

On the economic front, the two ministers agreed to promote trade missions, business forums, and sector-specific trade fairs to boost commercial exchanges and strengthen balance of payments. They also announced the establishment of a Morocco-Ghana Economic and Investment Forum, to be held periodically with alternating host cities between the two nations.

Agricultural security emerged as another key pillar of this partnership. Morocco’s OCP Group will supply fertilizers to enhance Ghana’s cocoa crop yields, strengthening the country’s agricultural production amid significant food imports totaling approximately $3 billion annually.

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