1. Sahara autonomy plan support
2. End of diplomatic ambiguity
3. Peru’s historical posture on Western Sahara
4. Moroccan diplomatic offensive in Latin America

Peru’s newly elected president, Keiko Fujimori, has begun clarifying key aspects of her foreign policy agenda in these early weeks following her highly contested election victory. One of the most significant positions she has taken relates to Morocco’s territorial integrity, a stance that came into focus after a meeting with Morocco’s ambassador to Peru, Amine Chaoudri, who delivered a congratulatory letter from King Mohammed VI.

Sahara autonomy plan support

During the meeting in Lima, the elected president informed the ambassador that her government would support Morocco’s territorial integrity and its autonomy plan for the Sahara. This position aligns with UN Security Council resolution 2797, which recognizes Morocco’s autonomy initiative as a viable framework for resolving the regional dispute.

King Mohammed VI’s letter to President Fujimori expressed warm congratulations, stating: « On the occasion of your election as President of the Republic of Peru, I have the pleasure of conveying my warmest congratulations for the trust you have earned from the Peruvian people to promote development and prosperity. » The monarch also highlighted « the excellent relations between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Peru, built on strong friendship, mutual consideration, and shared values, » pledging to « give new impetus to these relations » by elevating them to a strategic partnership for the benefit of both nations.

End of diplomatic ambiguity

The stance adopted by President Fujimori carries particular significance, marking a clear break from previous Peruvian governments that maintained an ambiguous—or outright supportive—position toward the Polisario Front. This ambiguity dates back to the administration of former President Fernando Belaunde Terry (1980–1985), who recognized the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1984.

His successor, Alan García, established diplomatic ties with the SADR in 1987, a relationship that persisted until 1996. It was then that President Alberto Fujimori—Keiko Fujimori’s father—suspended these ties, a decision that remained unchanged for the next 25 years under subsequent leaders, including Valentín Paniagua, Alejandro Toledo, Alan García (second term), Ollanta Humala, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Martín Vizcarra, Manuel Merino, Francisco Sagasti, and Dina Boluarte.

During the brief presidency of Pedro Castillo (July 2021–December 2022), diplomatic relations with the Polisario Front were restored in September 2021. However, this 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. Yet, President Castillo himself later reinstated relations with the Polisario, a move that ultimately contributed to his removal from office following an attempted power grab. His successor, Dina Boluarte, maintained the status quo for several months before suspending ties with the Polisario in September 2023 without withdrawing the 1984 recognition or endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan, thus preserving an ambiguous stance on the issue.

Peru’s historical posture on Western Sahara

With Fujimori’s presidency, Peru is poised to return to the position adopted by her father in 1996. Her government will go further by endorsing Morocco’s territorial integrity, sovereignty over the Sahara, the autonomy initiative, and UN Security Council resolution 2797.

Moroccan diplomatic offensive in Latin America

Peru’s shift in position is part of a broader trend influenced by Morocco’s intensive diplomatic efforts across Latin America, where the Polisario Front had previously enjoyed substantial support. Through enhanced economic, cultural, and academic cooperation, Morocco has cultivated closer ties with several countries in the region, positioning itself as a strategic gateway to Africa, Europe, and the Arab world.

As a result, numerous nations that had previously recognized the self-proclaimed SADR—such as Colombia, Guatemala, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, El Salvador, Guyana, Ecuador, and Panama—have since suspended their recognition or diplomatic relations with the separatist entity.