Cabo Verdean Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense Manuel Augusto Lima Amante da Rosa met with Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. During the meeting, Lima Amante da Rosa expressed Cabo Verde's support for Morocco's sovereignty and territorial integrity, including the Sahara. He also voiced support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan as the basis for resolving the regional dispute.
The two ministers issued a joint statement after the meeting, in which Lima Amante da Rosa welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797. The resolution, adopted in October 2025, extended the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara until October 31, 2026. The resolution also called for negotiations on the basis of Morocco's Autonomy Plan to reach a "just, lasting, and mutually acceptable" political settlement.
Lima Amante da Rosa also welcomed what the statement described as the international momentum generated by King Mohammed VI in support of the Autonomy Plan and Morocco's position on the Sahara. Bourita, for his part, thanked his Cabo Verdean counterpart for his country's consistent support for Morocco's position on the Sahara. He also welcomed Cabo Verde's opening of a consulate general in Dakhla in August 2022.
The two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, which they described as rooted in friendship, cooperation, and solidarity. Bourita expressed Morocco's willingness to support Cabo Verde's development in several priority sectors, including health, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, the blue economy, and the energy transition.
The two sides also agreed to hold the third session of the Morocco-Cabo Verde Joint Cooperation Commission during the first quarter of 2027. The meeting will seek to identify new partnership opportunities and advance cooperation across several sectors. The talks also covered Morocco's initiatives in Africa, including the Atlantic African States Initiative and the Royal Initiative to facilitate Sahel countries' access to the Atlantic Ocean.
The Cabo Verdean side commended King Mohammed VI's role in promoting peace, stability, and shared prosperity across the continent. The two ministers also discussed ways to enhance economic cooperation between Morocco and Cabo Verde, with a focus on areas such as trade, investment, and tourism.
The meeting between the two ministers highlights the strong bilateral relations between Morocco and Cabo Verde, as well as their commitment to cooperation on regional and international issues. The two countries have a long history of cooperation, and the meeting is seen as a significant step towards further strengthening their ties.
Key points
- Cabo Verde has reaffirmed its support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara and its Autonomy Plan as the basis for resolving the regional dispute.
- The two countries have agreed to hold the third session of the Morocco-Cabo Verde Joint Cooperation Commission during the first quarter of 2027.
- Morocco and Cabo Verde have expressed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation on regional and international issues.
