Peru |
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic |
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PeruâSahrawi Republic relations refers to the current and historical relations between the Republic of Peru and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
Peru first established relations with the SADR in 1987 [1] and froze them in 1996. [2] After 25 years, relations were reestablished in 2021, [3] suspended in August 2022 [4] and again reestablished on September of the same year. [5] In September 2023, it was announced that relations between both states were again suspended. [6] [7]
In 1999, and from 2012 to the present day, Peru has also sent troops to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. [8]
Peru first recognized the SADR through a treaty signed on August 16, 1984, under the presidency of Fernando BelaĂșnde. [9] Relations were then officially established on May 5, 1987, under the first presidency of Alan GarcĂa, [1] with another treaty being signed by Peruvian Foreign Minister Allan Wagner TizĂłn and Sahrawi Special Envoy Hamri Bouiha, [10] who became the first concurrent ambassador to Peru, presenting his credentials to GarcĂa. [11] Then Sahrawi foreign minister Omar Mansour paid a visit to the country from April 14 to 18 of the same year. [12] [13]
Despite the recognition, relations between Morocco and Peru were not negatively affected, as relations were not severed and the Peruvian embassy in Madrid continued to be accredited to the North African country. Instead, the Peruvian embassy in Rabat, which had been de facto closed since 1973 due to a lack of a chargé d'affaires, reopened in 1986, with both countries strengthening their relations. [14]
The next ambassador accredited to Peru, Hambi B. Sidi Mahmud, presented his credentials to GarcĂa on April 28, 1988, during a visit coordinated by Alfonso Barrantes. [15] [16] The visit was criticised by members of the press who believed that the strengthening of both governments' relations harmed the much more convenient relationship with Morocco, which controls most of the territory claimed by the SADR. [16]
On September 9, 1996, then foreign minister Francisco Tudela announced the freezing of relations between Peru and the SADR, [17] with Peru becoming the first Latin American country to sever relations with the state. This was due to Morocco's diplomatic efforts in Peru and then Alberto Fujimori's pro-Moroccan policy. A diplomatic incident also played a role in the decision, as the Moroccan delegation protested the presence of the Sahrawi delegation in the investiture of Fujimori after his victory in the 1995 election. [2]
After relations were suspended, the only government to take an interest in the situation in Western Sahara was the government of Ollanta Humala, who sent a delegation headed by diplomat José Beraun Aranibar to the territories administered by the Polisario Front and Smara refugee camp in Tindouf, Algeria. The delegation met with Sahrawi authorities, including then president Mohamed Abdelaziz. [18]
A diplomatic incident between the governments of Peru and the SADR took place in September 2017 when Sahrawi diplomat Khadijetou El Mokhtar was denied entry into Peru, remaining at Jorge ChĂĄvez International Airport for seventeen days. A communiquĂ© released by the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed that El Mohtar, despite travelling as a tourist with a Spanish passport, had acted as a diplomat in Peruvian territoryâdespite not having the recognition to exercise such functionsâin her last visit to the country. [19] [20] A social media campaign, #TodosSomosJadiyetu, was started by Munbadat, a pro- human rights NGO, which was spread by the Sahrawi diaspora as well as sympathizers. The NGO also wrote a letter to the Peruvian consulate in Bilbao protesting the situation. [21]
After 25 years, relations were resumed on September 8, 2021, under the presidency of Pedro Castillo. [22] After a year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru announced that it decided to withdraw its recognition of the state on August 18, 2022, [23] but this was disputed by Castillo, who confirmed the recognition of the state on September 8, 2022. [5] [24] Castillo subsequently met with Foreign Affairs Minister Mohamed Salem Uld Salek and speculated on the prospect of opening an embassy in Peru. [25]
In September 2023, it was announced that relations between both states were again suspended. [6] [7] [26]
High-level visits of Peru to the SADR (includes refugee camps in Algeria)
High-level visits of the SADR to Peru
Formerly accredited from Caracas, the SADR had an embassy in Lima [31] from November 2022 to September 2023. On the other hand, Peru did not have an embassy accredited to the SADR at any point in time.
14 de Abril: El Canciller de la RepĂșblica Saharaui, Omar Mansur, llegĂł a Lima en busca de apoyo polĂtico a la causa de su paĂs, que desde 1975 confronta una guerra con Marruecos. Mansur expresĂł su agradecimiento por el apoyo que el gobierno peruano ha brindado a dicha causa. ( El Peruano - Andina)
SADR Foreign Minister Omar Mansour paid an official visit to Peru April 14â18 according to Andina Press. During his visit Mansour met with Peruvian Foreign Minister Allan Wagner Tizon. Hamri Bouiha was installed as SADR Ambassador to Peru during Mansour's visit.
28 de Abril: El Presidente peruano Alan GarcĂa recibiĂł las credenciales del nuevo Embajador de la RepĂșblica Ărabe Saharaui en el PerĂș, Hambi B. Sidi Mahmud. ( El Comercio, El Peruano)
Una nueva prueba, por si faltaran, del cada vez mĂĄs estrecho entendimiento ideolĂłgico y polĂtico entre Alan GarcĂa y Alfonso Barrantes LingĂĄn con miras al frente popular moscovita-habanero-barrantista-alanista: en la prĂĄctica, el ex alcalde cajamarquino se ha convertido en ministro de Relaciones Exteriores y ya no en la sombra. Cuando el vicepresidente cubano asistiĂł a Palacio el sĂĄbado antepasado, lo agasajaron Alan GarcĂa y Barrantes. Y mientras los diplomĂĄticos de Torre Tagle estaban en la luna sobre el estrechamiento de relaciones entre el PerĂș y la fantasmal RepĂșblica SaharauĂ, Barrantes, tras bambalinas, coordinaba la venida a Lima del "embajador concurrente" de la inexistente repĂșblica , Hambi B. Sidi Mahmud. Mahmud presentĂł sus cartas credenciales al presidente GarcĂa el jueves, en el SalĂłn Dorado del Palacio de Gobierno. En un ditirĂĄmbico discurso, el representante de los fantasmales sarahauis relevĂł el "liderazgo tercermundista" de Alan GarcĂa. La ceremonia terminĂł con abrazos y grandes sonrisas. Mientras esto ocurre en Lima, en la ONU se ha anunciado la realizaciĂłn de un referĂ©ndum sobre el asunto. El APRA, en cambio, ya tomĂł partido, dando una poco diplomĂĄtica bofetada al gobierno de Marruecos, que no tiene nada de fantasma.