Moroccan Diplomacy Strengthens Efforts Ahead of Security Council Meeting on the Sahara

Active Moroccan Diplomacy Ahead of UN Security Council Meeting on Sahara Issue

On the eve of a closed-door meeting of the United Nations Security Council concerning the Sahara issue, scheduled for April 14, Moroccan diplomacy is demonstrating remarkable activity on multiple fronts. In this strategic context, Lotfi Bouchaâra, the Moroccan ambassador to the Russian Federation, was received in Moscow by Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian president’s special representative for the Middle East and Africa, who also serves as deputy foreign minister.

This meeting, announced by Russian diplomacy, took place against a backdrop of seriousness, reflecting the ongoing tensions in the affected regions. The two officials exchanged views on current regional issues, particularly crises in the Middle East and North Africa. They stressed the importance of regular and structured political cooperation between Rabat and Moscow, founded on mutual respect, shared interests, and open, sustained dialogue.

At the heart of their discussions were also mechanisms for the peaceful resolution of regional conflicts. Both parties expressed their commitment to exclusively rely on public international law and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. They reiterated that these multilateral instruments are, in their view, the only legitimate foundations for achieving a sustainable and equitable de-escalation that respects the principles of state sovereignty.

This diplomatic meeting occurs at a particularly sensitive moment for Morocco, as the international community, through the United Nations, continues to closely monitor the situation in the Sahara. The United Nations Mission for the Organization of a Referendum in Western Sahara (Minurso) maintains its presence, and the mandate of this peacekeeping force has been extended until October 31, 2025, following a vote by the Security Council on October 30, in line with the recommendations of UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Behind the scenes of diplomacy, the Moroccan ambassador’s visit to Moscow represents a significant milestone in Morocco’s efforts to strengthen its support among influential members of the Security Council as a major diplomatic deadline approaches. By reaffirming the importance of a multilateral framework, Rabat and Moscow display their mutual commitment to contributing to regional stability, amid an international context characterized by strategic realignments and geopolitical uncertainties.