The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Pholile Shakantu, reiterated, on February 6 in Rabat, her country’s support for the Moroccanity of the Sahara.
In a statement to the press following her meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, on the sidelines of the High-Level Ministerial Conference on Middle-Income Countries, Shakantu affirmed that “the Kingdom of Eswatini also considers the autonomy plan presented by Morocco in 2007 as the only solution” for the resolution of the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.
In the same context, the official recalled the opening in 2020 of a consulate general of the Kingdom of Eswatini in Laayoune, praising, in this regard, the excellent “long-standing brotherly ties” uniting the two monarchies and the two peoples.
Shakantu expressed her gratitude for Morocco’s support to Eswatini through scholarships in medicine, legal studies, and other technical specialties.
“We have stressed the need to raise bilateral cooperation to a higher level, and we are working towards the upcoming holding of the Trade and Cooperation Committee before the end of the year,” noted the Foreign Minister.
The High-Level Ministerial Conference on Middle-Income Countries took place on February 5 and 6 in Rabat, with the participation of 32 countries, and 23 United Nations (UN) development agencies in addition to international and regional institutions.
Held under the theme “Solutions to Address Development Challenges of Middle-Income Countries in a Changing World”, this two-day Conference is part of Morocco’s Presidency of the Group of Friends of Middle-Income Countries within the framework of the United Nations (UN), which the Kingdom has held since 2023, with the aim of advocating for the interests of developing countries, under the far-sighted vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.