Bahréin abre su Consulado en El Aaiún

Bahrain has just opened its Consulate in the Saharan capital, Laayoune, in the presence of the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, and his Bahraini counterpart, Abdullatif al-Zayani. The establishment of this diplomatic representation became the second of a Gulf country in this same city, after the United Arab Emirates. In addition, another Arab country, Jordan, also announced a month ago that it would establish a consular delegation in the same city.

Nasser Bourita stressed the soundness of relations between the two countries, which is evidenced by this Bahraini endorsement of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Both foreign ministers stressed the good moment in relations between the two countries, based on "serenity, brotherhood and solidarity".

The Moroccan foreign minister also thanked the King of Bahrain, as the opening of the Consulate in Laayoune "is a historic step that reaffirms the defence of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Morocco".

In recent months several African countries have been establishing diplomatic representations in the Sahara, but it was not until now, with the opening of the consulates of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, in addition to the United States' announcement of establishing its own in the city of Dakhla, that Morocco's position with respect to the Sahara was truly consolidated.

Meanwhile, Qatar and Algeria continue to state that these events are preventing progress towards a resolution of the conflict in accordance with the United Nations' positions.