Relationship dossier
Western Sahara
Zambia
Relationship assessment
Zambia's recognition of the SADR was followed by withdrawal, leaving a limited and changing bilateral relationship.
Western Sahara toward Zambia
Not assessedZambia toward Western Sahara
-5Zambia recognized the SADR and later withdrew recognition, changing its official position toward Sahrawi statehood. The extent of other direct Zambian government engagement with Sahrawi authorities is unclear.
Overall relationship
Not assessedHow to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Zambia recognized the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and later withdrew recognition. This reversal indicates a limited, changing basis for bilateral relations, rather than a sustained partnership or sustained hostility. Information about direct Sahrawi government cooperation with Zambia is insufficient to assess the relationship from the Sahrawi government's perspective.
Areas of tension
- Zambia's withdrawal of recognition of the SADR changed its position on Sahrawi statehood.
Key developments
Zambia withdrew its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic after having recognized it.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of direct bilateral cooperation between the Sahrawi and Zambian governments is unclear.
- The timing and practical effects of changes in Zambia's recognition policy are uncertain.