Colombia on Monday reaffirmed its recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its entire territory, including the Sahara, while announcing the suspension of its recognition of the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
In a statement, Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the decision followed a “sovereign review” of the recognition granted by the previous government, highlighting several factors behind the policy shift.
Bogotá said its review took into account the fact that the SADR “is not recognized by the United Nations as a member state,” while also citing the importance of strengthening the strategic partnership between Colombia and Morocco.
The Colombian government said the decision means there will be no political or diplomatic contact, exchange of missions or support for the SADR in multilateral forums, including the United Nations and the Security Council, where Colombia is currently serving as a non-permanent member.
Respect for international law
Bogotá also stressed that its new position is fully consistent with international law and the UN Charter, as well as with the framework established by UN Security Council Resolution 2797 (2025) concerning the Sahara.
The Colombian Foreign Ministry said the policy shift reflects the country’s intention to “revitalize” its relations with Morocco, describing the North African kingdom as a partner of nearly five decades.
According to Bogotá, the renewed relationship will be built around a “long-term vision” and the objective of establishing a new phase of bilateral ties that serves the interests of both countries and their peoples.
The Colombian government also pointed to the economic and strategic potential of closer relations with Morocco, saying the new dynamic would focus on “ambitious and concrete” cooperation in areas including trade, investment, tourism, food security, port and logistics development, and strengthening Atlantic connectivity.
Colombia’s latest position marks a significant shift from the policy adopted by the previous government, which had maintained diplomatic relations with the SADR. Official Colombian records show that Bogotá reaffirmed those relations in 2022.
The move also builds on an existing bilateral relationship with Morocco. In a 2021 joint statement, Colombia highlighted Morocco’s autonomy initiative for the Sahara and described it as an important basis for achieving a realistic, lasting and political solution to the dispute.
