Rhino: Agencies – Chad on Wednesday opened a consulate in Western Sahara, joining African and Arab countries with diplomatic missions there, in a sign of support for Morocco’s claim to sovereignty over the disputed region.

Morocco considers Western Sahara its territory, but the Algerian-backed Polisario Front wants to establish a state there.

To date, 29 countries have opened consulates in the Western Saharan cities of Laayoune and Dakhla in full support of Morocco’s sovereignty over the region.