The Chargé d’Affaires of the Kingdom of Morocco in Sierra Leone, Khalid Akhsas, has called on the Speaker of Sierra Leone’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, to publicly commend the United Kingdom’s recent endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal for the Western Sahara.
Mr. Akhsas made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Speaker at Parliament on Monday. The Moroccan diplomat described the UK’s backing of the proposal as a historic diplomatic breakthrough and an important step toward resolving the long-standing Western Sahara conflict.
He highlighted that the endorsement was officially expressed in a Joint Communiqué signed on Sunday in Rabat by UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy, and Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita. According to Mr. Akhsas, this makes the UK the third permanent member of the United Nations Security Council to support Morocco’s plan, after the United States and France.
“I believe that this is influential, strong support from a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council, and it signals growing international alignment behind Morocco’s proposal under its sovereignty,” he stated.
Akhsas noted that the development also aligns with Sierra Leone’s longstanding position in support of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara. He cited Sierra Leone’s opening of a consulate in Dakhla in 2021 as a tangible demonstration of solidarity.
He further emphasized that the current momentum presents an ideal opportunity to end the prolonged dispute and establish lasting peace in the region. “This is the right time to resolve this artificial regional issue and achieve a definitive solution,” he said.
The Moroccan diplomat also used the visit to inform the Speaker about potential capacity-building initiatives for Parliamentary staff, aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration between the two countries.
In his response, Speaker Segepoh Solomon Thomas warmly welcomed the Moroccan delegation and expressed appreciation for the visit. He praised the UK’s support for Morocco’s proposal as a bold and commendable diplomatic step, adding that such endorsements could contribute to regional stability.
The Speaker also expressed enthusiasm about the training opportunities for parliamentary staff, noting that capacity development is a key priority for Sierra Leone’s legislature.
The visit highlights growing diplomatic engagement between Sierra Leone and Morocco, underpinned by shared positions on international issues and a mutual commitment to institutional cooperation.
By Ibrahim Williams and Janet Fofana
