Guinea's Diplomatic Position on Western Sahara
As Morocco and Algeria vie for diplomatic influence across the African continent, Guinea has recently clarified its stance on one of the most sensitive issues in the Maghreb region—the Western Sahara dispute. During a meeting in Conakry, the Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Morissanda Kouyaté, unequivocally expressed his country's support for Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara while hosting his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita.
The conclusion of the 8th session of the Joint Cooperation Commission, held in Conakry on August 8, 2026, brought together the two foreign ministers. They reviewed various areas of collaboration, resulting in the adoption of new legal instruments aimed at enhancing bilateral relations. Minister Kouyaté praised the "valuable achievements driven by the strategic visions of our two governments and mindful of the richness of our natural resources and the quality of our human capital," emphasizing that strong actions in essential sectors were identified by both delegations.
However, Kouyaté was keen to frame these advancements within a context of tangible outcomes rather than mere diplomatic formalities, stating, "Behind every agreement lies an expectation; behind every signature rests a responsibility. Our true success will therefore not be measured by the number of texts signed but by the concrete changes they will bring to our populations." This pragmatic approach underscores Guinea's desire for meaningful progress in its international engagements.
Significance of Guinea's Support for Morocco
The meeting took a particularly significant turn regarding the Western Sahara issue, as Kouyaté took the opportunity to reaffirm Guinea's position on the long-standing conflict that has pitted Morocco against the Polisario Front, which is supported by Algeria. "The Republic of Guinea reiterates its unwavering and steadfast support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and its territorial integrity," declared Dr. Morissanda Kouyaté, reinforcing Guinea's diplomatic alignment with Morocco.
It is important to note that Western Sahara remains one of the oldest and most intractable territorial disputes on the continent. Since the end of Spanish colonial rule in 1975, Morocco has administered most of the territory, claiming full sovereignty, while the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, calls for independence and the organization of a self-determination referendum under UN supervision.
The historically tense relations between Rabat and Algiers officially broke down in August 2021, with Algeria criticizing Morocco's strategic rapprochement with Israel and its growing support from Western powers. Notably, the United States recognized Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020, followed by France in 2024. Since then, both North African capitals have engaged in a relentless battle for influence, each striving to rally support from a maximum number of countries, particularly within Africa.
In this context of continental rivalry, Guinea's declaration serves as a pivotal point, as each African state's position on this issue weighs heavily in the balance of power between Rabat and Algiers, particularly in West Africa.
As reported by ledjely.com.
