Lisbon: Parliamentary Resolution Proposed to Recognize Morocco’s Sovereignty over its Sahara
On Tuesday, September 16, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Portuguese Assembly examined a parliamentary initiative submitted by the right-wing Chega Party. The proposed resolution calls on the Portuguese government to officially recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over its Southern provinces, to cut all contacts with the Polisario Front, and to encourage the latter to abandon armed struggle in favor of a peaceful political process alongside Rabat.
The text, filed under number 123-1 and signed by Chega deputies, recalls that the Sahara was administered by Spain until 1975, when Madrid withdrew following the Green March, which mobilized hundreds of thousands of Moroccans. Since then, the resolution notes, Morocco has maintained an effective and continuous presence in the region despite separatist claims by the Polisario, which purports to represent the local population.
The resolution highlights Lisbon’s “ambivalent” stance, oscillating between its stated support for self-determination and negotiations, and its implicit recognition of Morocco’s autonomy initiative, which the international community regards as serious and credible. This ambiguity is reflected in Portugal’s continued official relations with representatives of the so-called “SADR,” who have been present in the country for decades.
According to Chega deputies, this position unnecessarily weakens the historical friendship between Rabat and Lisbon. They recall, in particular, the September 2023 episode when Morocco declined Portuguese aid after the earthquake, opting instead to cooperate with countries considered “friendly.” Observers interpreted this decision as a clear signal to Lisbon, while France, in August 2024, clarified its stance by officially recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara.
The parliamentarians also emphasize the growing international momentum supporting Morocco’s claims: several African countries opened consulates in the Southern provinces starting in 2019, the United States recognized Moroccan sovereignty in 2020, Spain formally endorsed it in 2022, Israel in 2023, and the United Kingdom in 2025.
“The Kingdom of Morocco is not just a neighbor; it is a strategic partner and a historical friend,” the resolution notes, urging the Portuguese government to take a clear position: recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, cease any contact with the pseudo-SADR, and encourage the Polisario to commit to a peaceful path.
During committee debates, Deputy Diogo Pacheco de Amorim stressed the need for Portugal to end what he described as a “confused” policy, arguing that adopting this resolution would help safeguard Lisbon’s strategic interests with a key ally like Morocco.
The text is now set to be voted on in a plenary session. It is worth recalling that during a bilateral meeting in Lisbon last July, Portugal had already reaffirmed, in a joint statement with Morocco, its full support for Rabat’s autonomy plan, considered the “most serious, credible, and realistic” basis for achieving a definitive political settlement of the dispute.
Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv
