Colombia officially recognises Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara

Colombia said on Thursday that it recognised Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara territory, which has been a major point of contention between the North African kingdom and neighbouring Algeria.

Colombian Vice President and foreign minister Marta Lucia Ramirez affirmed her country’s support for Moroccan "territorial integrity" and "sovereignty over Western Sahara" while on an official visit to Morocco, where she will remain until 1 November.

Bogota will extend consular jurisdiction of its embassy in Rabat "to all Moroccan territory, including southern provinces," Ramirez said.

Morocco controls 80 percent of Western Sahara. The rest is controlled by the Polisario Front, which is backed by Algeria.

Rabat has proposed a plan to grant Western Sahara autonomy, but only under Moroccan sovereignty.

The Polisario Front continues to demand a UN-supervised self-determination referendum, which was agreed to in a 1991 ceasefire accord but never took place.

Morocco's long tense relations with Algeria have further deteriorated since Rabat last year won Washington's recognition of its sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for normalising ties with Israel.

Algeria cut diplomatic ties with Morocco this summer over its"hostile actions", including alleged spying.

The Colombian government has strong ties with Israel and the US.