According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this “reorientation confirms Colombia’s willingness to revitalize its relations with Morocco,” a country it described as “an ally for nearly fifty years.” Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory awaiting decolonization, and its definitive status can only be determined through the free and genuine exercise of the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and independence.

It also recalled that the International Court of Justice established in 1975 that there are no ties of territorial sovereignty between Morocco and Western Sahara.

“Recognition of the alleged Moroccan sovereignty therefore constitutes a decision contrary to the principles of international law, as it contributes to legitimizing a situation resulting from the military occupation of a territory awaiting decolonization,” it noted.

Colombia and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic established diplomatic relations on February 27, 1985, during the administration of President Belisario Betancur (1982-1986).

These relations were unilaterally suspended in 2001 by President Andrés Pastrana (1998-2002), but President Gustavo Petro (2022-2026) reinstated them on August 11, 2022.

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