Western Sahara dispute just got another twist, and Somalia wants everyone to hear it loud and clear. This week the Somali foreign ministry put out a short, sharp statement saying reports that Somalia recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara are completely false. Western Sahara dispute stays exactly where Somalia always kept it: supporting the Sahrawi people’s right to decide their own future.
How the Western Sahara Rumor Started
It all blew up after Morocco’s foreign minister posted on Twitter about a phone call with his Somali counterpart. He thanked Somalia for “supporting Morocco’s territorial integrity” and mentioned Western Sahara like it was done deal. Within hours Moroccan media ran headlines screaming Somalia now backs Rabat 100 %. Social media went wild. Algeria got mad. Polisario supporters panicked. But Somalia said hold up, not so fast. Western Sahara dispute is not something Mogadishu flips on overnight.
Somalia’s Official Line Hasn’t Moved an Inch
The statement was short but firm: Somalia supports African Union decisions and UN resolutions on Western Sahara. That means self-determination for the Sahrawi people through a free referendum. Always has, always will. No secret deals, no sudden U-turns. The ministry even called the Moroccan claim “misinterpretation.” Translation: nice try, but no. Western Sahara dispute stays on Somalia’s side of supporting international law.
Why Morocco Pushed the Story So Hard
Morocco wants every African capital to say Western Sahara is Moroccan, period. They opened a big embassy in Mogadishu last year, gave scholarships, built hospitals, sent cheap medicine. Good moves, sure. But friendship doesn’t mean Somalia sells out another people’s freedom. When the minister thanked Somalia for “support,” Rabat heard what it wanted to hear. Somalia heard a normal thank-you for normal relations. Western Sahara dispute doesn’t get solved by twisting polite words.
Somalia’s Long Track Record on Western Sahara Conflict
Go back and check. Every Somali president since independence backed the Sahrawi cause. Somalia voted with Algeria and South Africa at every AU summit on this issue. When Polisario opened an embassy in Mogadishu in 2021, Somalia welcomed them with open arms. Even during the worst fighting in the 90s, Somalia never changed position. Western Sahara dispute is one of the few foreign policy lines that survived civil war, clan fights, and changing governments.
The Phone Call That Started the Fire
What really happened on that call? Nobody released a recording, but sources in Villa Somalia say the conversation was about trade, security, maybe port deals. Western Sahara never came up. Morocco later added it in their version. Classic diplomatic game: say thanks, slip in your wishlist, hope the other side doesn’t notice. Somalia noticed, and shut it down fast. Western Sahara Conflict isn’t up for quiet trades.
Algeria and Polisario Breathe Easier
Algiers wasted no time cheering Somalia’s statement. Their media called it “proof of African solidarity.” Polisario reps in Mogadishu thanked Somalia for “staying true.” Behind closed doors they were sweating bullets for 48 hours, thinking another AU member flipped. Now they’re smiling again. Western Sahara dispute still has friends in the east of the continent.
Why Somalia Won’t Budge
Simple really. Somalia knows what it feels like to have others draw lines on your land. From colonial borders to Somaliland arguments, Mogadishu lives the pain of disputed territory every day. Selling out the Sahrawi people would make Somalia look like a hypocrite to its own citizens. Plus Algeria has been a rock-solid friend: money, weapons, training when Somalia fought terrorists. You don’t stab brothers in the back for a few Moroccan hospitals. Western Sahara dispute hits too close to home.
The Bigger Picture in African Politics
Morocco keeps collecting recognitions like stamps. USA, Israel, some Gulf countries, a handful of small African states already said yes. Every “yes” chips away at Polisario’s hope. But the AU still says Western Sahara is occupied territory, not Moroccan. Somalia’s quick “no” reminds everyone the continent isn’t for sale. Western Sahara dispute lives on because countries like Somalia refuse to let it die quietly.
What Happens Next
Morocco will probably stay quiet for a bit, maybe send another plane of medical aid to smooth things over. Somalia will keep taking the help but won’t trade principles for it. The embassy stays open, the trade keeps growing, but on Western Sahara dispute Mogadishu’s answer is still the same: let the Sahrawi people vote.
Also Read: How Did Somali Community Rights Become a Talking Point in US Politics Again
Somalia could have stayed silent and let the rumor spread. Instead it shouted the truth fast and clear. That’s not weakness. That’s backbone.
Western Sahara dispute isn’t settled by tweets or twisted phone calls. It’s settled when the people living there finally get their say. Until then Somalia stands exactly where it always stood: with the Sahrawi, with the AU, with self-determination.
