1. Sahara autonomy support takes center stage
2. End of diplomatic ambiguity with decades of precedent
3. Peru-Morocco diplomatic realignment gains momentum
4. Morocco strengthens ties across Latin America

Peruvian President-elect Keiko Fujimori has begun charting clear foreign policy priorities in the early weeks following her closely contested election victory. One of the most significant shifts involves Peru’s stance on Morocco’s territorial integrity—a topic brought into sharp focus during a meeting with Morocco’s Ambassador to Peru, Amine Chaoudri, who delivered a congratulatory letter from King Mohammed VI.

Sahara autonomy support takes center stage

According to statements from Fujimori’s transition team, the president-elect told the Moroccan envoy that her administration would formally endorse Morocco’s territorial integrity and its autonomy plan for Western Sahara. She also conveyed Peru’s support for UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which recognizes Morocco’s autonomy initiative as a viable framework for resolving the long-standing regional dispute.

During the meeting, Ambassador Chaoudri presented Fujimori with a letter from King Mohammed VI, who congratulated her on her election and praised her leadership in fostering development and prosperity for Peru. The monarch highlighted the strong historical bonds between Morocco and Peru, rooted in mutual respect, shared values, and a commitment to strengthening bilateral ties into a robust multilateral partnership for the benefit of both nations.

End of diplomatic ambiguity with decades of precedent

Fujimori’s position carries significant weight, signaling a decisive break from previous Peruvian governments that maintained ambiguous or even openly supportive stances toward the Polisario Front. The shift is particularly notable given Peru’s historical recognition of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1984 under President Fernando Belaúnde Terry’s second term (1980–1985).

His successor, Alan García, established full diplomatic relations with the SADR in 1987—a policy that persisted until 1996, when Alberto Fujimori (Keiko Fujimori’s father) suspended all ties. This status quo remained unchanged for the next 25 years, spanning the presidencies of Valentín Paniagua, Alejandro Toledo, Alan García’s second term, Ollanta Humala, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, Martín Vizcarra, Manuel Merino, and Francisco Sagasti.

Peru-Morocco diplomatic realignment gains momentum

The election of Pedro Castillo in July 2021 briefly disrupted this pattern when he restored diplomatic relations with the Polisario in September 2021. However, his foreign minister, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Mackat, reversed the decision in August 2022, citing respect for Morocco’s territorial integrity. Castillo’s subsequent attempt to overturn this decision was ultimately overshadowed by his impeachment in December 2022.

His successor, Dina Boluarte, maintained the status quo until September 2023, when she suspended relations with the Polisario without formally withdrawing recognition of the SADR or endorsing Morocco’s autonomy plan—a position that remained ambiguous. Short-lived presidencies by José Jeri and José María Balcázar followed, leaving the issue unresolved until Fujimori’s election.

With Fujimori now in office, Peru is set to return to the stance adopted by her father in 1996, but with an even stronger commitment: full support for Morocco’s territorial sovereignty, the Western Sahara autonomy initiative, and UN Resolution 2797.

Morocco strengthens ties across Latin America

Peru’s policy shift aligns with Morocco’s intensified diplomatic efforts across Latin America, where the Polisario Front had previously enjoyed considerable backing. Through expanded economic, cultural, and educational cooperation, Morocco has forged closer ties with multiple countries in the region, positioning itself as a key gateway to Africa, Europe, and the Arab world.

As a result, several nations that once recognized the SADR have since withdrawn their recognition or severed diplomatic ties, including Colombia, Guatemala, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, El Salvador, Guyana, Ecuador, and Panama.