Ecuador backs Morocco autonomy plan, signs deals in Rabat
During a visit to Rabat, Ecuador reaffirmed its support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara and signed a visa waiver and a cooperation roadmap with Morocco through 2028.
Ecuador has reaffirmed its full support for the autonomy plan Morocco put forward in 2007 to resolve the Western Sahara dispute, describing it as "the only serious, credible and realistic solution" to the conflict. The statement came during a visit to Rabat by Ecuador's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility, Roberto Carlos Kury Pesantes — his first visit to Morocco since taking office — according to Hespress.
At a joint press conference with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita on Monday morning in Rabat, Ecuador welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2729 and said Morocco's initiative was the basis for a political settlement of the dispute, according to Al3omk. Bourita thanked Ecuador for its position, which he described as "constructive, positive and clear," saying it backs Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces.
What did Morocco and Ecuador sign in Rabat?
During the visit, the two countries signed a visa waiver agreement for holders of ordinary passports, aimed at easing travel and boosting tourism, economic and cultural exchange, along with a new bilateral cooperation roadmap covering 2026-2028 and a joint statement on the outcome of the talks, according to Al3omk. The two sides also agreed to set up a joint economic and technical committee that will meet soon, while three more agreements are being prepared on avoiding double taxation, protecting investments, and air services and tourism.
How have ties between Rabat and Quito developed in just two years?
Morocco and Ecuador had no diplomatic relations before September 2024, before exchanging embassy openings starting in October of that year and signing an earlier cooperation roadmap covering 2025 and 2026, according to Hespress. Separately, Bourita announced he will travel to Quito next January to oversee the opening of Morocco's embassy there, a visit that could also see the first Moroccan-Ecuadorian economic forum, according to Al3omk. The rapprochement comes as the Western Sahara file sees fast-moving developments at the UN level, with the MINURSO mission recently starting to evacuate its positions east of the defense wall.
What changes for travelers and the southern provinces?
The visa waiver agreement signed Monday ends the visa requirement for holders of ordinary passports between the two countries, easing travel for tourism, business or cultural purposes. Separately, Ecuador plans to extend the consular coverage of its Rabat embassy to Morocco's southern provinces, with its ambassador set to visit them soon — a step Rabat called confirmation of Quito's support for its sovereignty there, according to Al3omk.
The new roadmap also covers cooperation on food security and fertilizers, along with security and intelligence cooperation against organized cross-border crime, with both sides seeking to make Morocco a trade platform for Ecuador toward Africa, Europe and the Arab world, especially for agricultural products, according to Al3omk.