The Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mamadou Tangara, has reaffirmed that Morocco is the “clear and unambiguous” owner of Western Sahara.

Morocco and The Gambia have enjoyed good relations in the past. And they have been stronger ever since the gas pipeline project connecting Morocco and Nigeria was announced. Up to thirteen countries—Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania, and Morocco—will see economic growth as a result of the project.

The Gambia has joined the growing list of countries that back Morocco’s claims to sovereignty over the Western Sahara as a result of minister Tangara’s statements. During a meeting with Nasser Bourita, the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mamadou Tangara remarked that Gambia has consistently supported the Moroccan monarchy.

When considering whether to help Morocco over the Sahara problem, it is important to keep in mind that the Gambia was among the first nations to open consulates in Dakhla. The ambassador praised Morocco during the press conference for having greatly strengthened the Moroccan people’s unity following the Al-Haouz earthquake. The Gambian government, which views the Alawi monarchy as one of the primary economic engines of North Africa, has long been concerned with defending Morocco’s territorial security..

The Gambia’s permanent representative to the UN, Lang Yarbo, commended Morocco in May for its support of the ceasefire in Western Sahara and called on other governments to guarantee the protection and preservation of fundamental freedoms and human rights.

Yarbo praised King Mohammed VI’s and the kingdom of North Africa’s efforts to help and reconstruct the impacted populace. The ambassador also emphasized the Kingdom’s initiatives to guarantee that every Sahrawi is vaccinated in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Morocco’s sustained commitment to attaining socio-economic development in the sub-Saharan region is evident in all these initiatives,” the speaker declared.

In October of last year, Nasser Bourita declared that with the Czech Republic’s endorsement of Morocco’s plan for autonomy in the Western Sahara, the total number of EU members endorsing the proposal has reached 14. In 2022, Spain reaffirmed its strong support for Morocco’s territorial integrity when it declared its agreement to the 2007 Autonomy Plan, which sought to end the conflict in the Western Sahara.

Spain referred to Rabat’s proposal as “the most serious and credible alternative” to resolve the dispute. A defeat in the conflict’s history was also signaled by the US resolution in late 2020 to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara, which reaffirmed sovereignty over the southern territory and preceded Spain’s decision. Regionally, around 40% of African countries have opened consulates in Laayoune or Dakhla, indicating growing support for Morocco’s territorial integrity. Currently, more than 27 countries have opened diplomatic missions in the southern province and Dakhla now has 15 consulates.