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Western Sahara–Syria relations

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Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic–Syria relations
Map indicating locations of Syria and SADR

Syria
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic

The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), operated by the Polisario Front, and Syria began diplomatic relations when Ba'athist Syria officially recognized SADR on 15 April 1980.[1] In 2026, the Syrian transitional government expressed support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara.

History

Ba'athist Syria–Polisario Front ties (1980–2024)

Ba'athist Syria historically provided political support to the Polisario Front a Sahrawi group.

An April 2025 article from The Washington Post alleged that the Polisario Front participated in the Syrian civil war.[2] This article was criticized in a fact-checking investigation by TruthAfrica (Code for Africa and Pravda Association) for amplifying Moroccan misinformation.[3] The article was later amended with a denial from the Polisario Front, stating that,

[To] suggest that Polisario fighters would abandon their decades-long struggle against Moroccan occupation in favor of distant conflicts in which they have no stake is not only implausible—it is an insult to the dignity and determination of a people fighting for their freedom.[2]

Syria denied allegations that Polisario fighters were being held in its prisons.[4]

Syrian reconciliation with Morocco (2025–present)

In May 2025, Moroccan media reported that the Syrian transitional government closed the Polisario Front's office in Damascus during a diplomatic rapprochement with Morocco.[5] British newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi and pan-African blog Sawt Afrikya refuted this report, citing sources that claimed that the Polisario office has been closed since 2003.[6]

In May 2026, Syrian foreign minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani endorsed UN Security Council Resolution 2797–which supports Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara–during his state visit to Rabat.[7] Africa 24 described the move as a profound departure from Ba'athist Syria's support for the SADR.[8]

See also

References

  1. "States recognizing the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic" (in Arabic). Official Website of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Archived from the original on 31 October 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2008.
  2. Loveday Morris; Souad Mekhennet (12 April 2025). "Syria seeks to sever last Iran-linked networks for smuggling arms and cash". The Washington Post. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  3. Alex Kasprak (27 June 2025). "Did Washington Post amplify Moroccan propaganda?". African Digital Democracy Observatory. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  4. "Syrian Presidency Clarifies: 'No Sahrawi fighters in Syria, neither now nor in the past'". Sahara Press Service. 5 June 2025. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
  5. Manar Salameh (28 May 2025). "Moroccan Diplomatic Mission visits Damascus to finalize the necessary arrangements for the embassy's reopening". Syrian Arab News Agency. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  6. "Syrian Sources refute Moroccan propaganda of fake victory over Polisario and deny existence of Sahrawi POWs in Damascus". Sahara Press Service. 29 May 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2026.
  7. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates (14 May 2026). "The Syrian Arab Republic, through its Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, affirmed its full respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco and its sovereignty over its entire territory". Archived from the original on 29 May 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  8. Africa 24 (16 May 2026). "Maroc : la Syrie réaffirme son soutien au plan d'autonomie pour le Sahara marocain" (in French). Retrieved 29 May 2026. Ce rapprochement confirme un changement profond de la diplomacie syrienne. Sous l'ex-président Bahar al-Assad, la Syrie soutenait le front Polisario et reconnaissait la RASD République arabe sarawioui démocratique depuis 1980. [This rapprochement confirms a profound change in Syrian diplomacy. Under ex-president Bahar al-Assad, Syria supported the Polisario Front and recognized the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic since 1980.]{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)