After Meeting Bourita in New York, U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson: “It Is Time to Designate the Polisario as a Terrorist Organization”
ALDAR / Meriem Hafiani
U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson has reaffirmed the strength of the Moroccan-American partnership, expressing his support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara and calling for the designation of the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization in the United States.
The statement came following a meeting between Wilson and Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, held Monday in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a post on his account on the “X” platform, Wilson said he was “grateful” to meet with the Moroccan Foreign Minister, explaining that their discussions addressed the “strong and enduring friendship” between the two countries, as well as “Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara,” in addition to the need to designate the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization.
The U.S. lawmaker’s remarks come as he continues his efforts in Congress to advance such a designation. In June 2025, Wilson, together with Democratic Representative Jimmy Panetta, introduced legislation calling for the process of designating the Polisario as a “Foreign Terrorist Organization” to be initiated, an initiative that received support from a number of members of Congress.
A Republican representing South Carolina, Wilson also plays a prominent role in the Congressional Morocco Caucus, which brings together Republican and Democratic lawmakers and works to strengthen relations between the United States and Morocco.
In remarks following his meeting with Bourita, Wilson also praised the role played by Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, in supporting peace and stability in Africa. He also welcomed what he described as American leadership in support of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara.
Wilson’s positions reflect the continued attention paid by a number of members of Congress to the issue of the Moroccan Sahara and to strengthening Moroccan-American cooperation, amid the development of bilateral relations in the political, security and economic fields.
