Deep Dive: Bolivia suspends recognition of Polisario's RASD and ends official contact

Bolivia's suspension of recognition for the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (RASD), the self-proclaimed state backed by the Polisario Front (Polisario), marks a notable shift in Latin American diplomacy toward the Western Sahara conflict. From a geopolitical lens, this move aligns Bolivia with Morocco's position, which claims sovereignty over Western Sahara, countering Algeria's support for Polisario independence. Historically, the conflict stems from Spain's 1975 withdrawal, leading to Morocco's Green March annexation and Polisario's guerrilla war, culminating in a 1991 UN ceasefire with a stalled referendum. Bolivia, traditionally non-aligned and supportive of self-determination causes like Palestine, previously recognized RASD alongside countries like Venezuela and Cuba, reflecting leftist solidarity networks. As an international affairs correspondent, this development underscores evolving South-South relations, where economic ties with Morocco—potentially in phosphates, fisheries, or trade—may outweigh ideological commitments. Culturally, Bolivia's indigenous Aymara and Quechua populations share affinities with Sahrawi nomadic heritage, yet pragmatic diplomacy prevails amid domestic economic pressures post-2020 political crisis. Key actors include Morocco, seeking broader diplomatic normalization post-Abraham Accords; Algeria, Polisario's patron facing its own gas disputes with Spain; and the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), whose mandate expires periodically without resolution. Regionally, in the Andes, this signals Bolivia under President Luis Arce navigating between ideological roots and global realignments, possibly influenced by Brazil's neutral stance or EU-Morocco trade pacts. Cross-border implications ripple to Africa-Latin America forums like CELAC-Union Africana dialogues, affecting migration narratives and resource diplomacy. For global audiences, it highlights how distant conflicts entwine via recognition politics, with the US and France tacitly backing Morocco for counterterrorism stability in the Sahel. Looking ahead, this could embolden other Latin states to derecognize RASD, pressuring Algeria and isolating Polisario amid renewed border clashes since 2021. Stakeholders like Sahrawi refugees in Tindouf camps face diplomatic setbacks, while Moroccan investments in Bolivia could expand. The nuance lies in Bolivia's 'suspension' rather than full rupture, preserving flexibility amid fluid power dynamics.