In a significant boost to Morocco’s diplomatic momentum on the Sahara issue, the Netherlands has formally reaffirmed its support for the Kingdom’s Autonomy Plan, describing “genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty” as the most feasible solution to resolving the long-standing regional dispute.
The position was articulated in a Joint Declaration issued on Friday following a meeting in The Hague between Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, and Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Asylum and Migration, David Van Weel.
The declaration aligns the Netherlands with a growing number of international actors who recognise Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative—first proposed in 2007—as a credible basis for negotiation under United Nations auspices.
According to the communiqué, the Netherlands not only supports the Autonomy Plan but also welcomes the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which reinforces the UN-led political process. The Dutch government expressed full support for the efforts of the UNSecretary-General and his Personal Envoy in facilitating negotiations grounded in the Moroccan proposal.
Both ministers underlined that the objective remains a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, as consistently urged by successive Security Council resolutions.
The reiteration of Dutch support comes amid what Moroccan officials describe as growing “international momentum” behind the autonomy framework—momentum developed under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, whose diplomatic engagements have strengthened Morocco’s position on the global stage.
Friday’s meeting also forms part of ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation between Morocco and the Netherlands, particularly in political dialogue, migration management and regional security.
With this renewed endorsement from The Hague, Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative continues to gain traction as the leading path toward settling one of the longest-running disputes in North Africa.
