Paraguay will establish a consulate in Dakhla, a key city in Western Sahara administered by Morocco, becoming the latest country to back Rabat’s sovereignty claims over the disputed territory, Morocco’s foreign ministry announced on Friday.
According to Reuters, the decision was confirmed following a meeting between Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and Paraguayan counterpart Rubén Ramírez Lezcano in Rabat. The move reinforces Morocco’s diplomatic push to gain international recognition for its control over Western Sahara, where the Polisario Front continues to seek independence with backing from Algeria.
“This reflects Paraguay’s confidence in Morocco’s leadership and its development vision for Africa,” Bourita said in a statement carried by Morocco’s state news agency MAP. The Paraguayan foreign minister added that the new diplomatic post aims to strengthen trade, investment, and cultural cooperation between the two nations.
As reported by Bloomberg, more than 30 countries have opened consulates in Dakhla and Laayoune in recent years, supporting Morocco’s autonomy plan for the region. Analysts view Paraguay’s move as a significant diplomatic win for Rabat, which continues to deepen ties with Latin American and African partners amid growing geopolitical interest in the Sahara region.
