Colombia is expected to replace its ambassador to Morocco, Carlos Arturo Forero Sierra, according to a report published by Caracol Radio on October 26. The Colombian broadcaster said Forero learned of the decision “unexpectedly” during a visit to the Foreign Ministry, where he was told that arrangements were already being made for his successor’s arrival. He had reportedly received no advance notice. Neither the identity of the incoming ambassador nor the reasons for the change have been made public.
Forero took up his post in Rabat on August 11, 2025, after more than three decades in Colombia’s diplomatic and consular service, which he joined in 1991. His career at the Foreign Ministry has included work on consular and multilateral affairs, human rights and relations with the Asia-Pacific region. He has also served in diplomatic postings in Algeria, Belize, New Zealand and Australia, as well as at Colombian consulates in Toronto and Puerto Rico.
Diplomatic overhaul announced in July
The expected change comes amid a wider restructuring of Colombia’s diplomatic network, announced by Abelardo de la Espriella before he took office as president. On July 27, while still president-elect, he outlined plans to close 14 embassies, including the mission in Algeria, and around 15 consulates. He said the cuts were intended to reduce spending and concentrate diplomatic resources on missions considered a priority.
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Colombia’s embassy in Morocco was not among those earmarked for closure. Its mission in Algeria, where Forero previously served, was on the list. De la Espriella also announced plans to open a diplomatic mission in Nigeria as part of a broader reshaping of Colombia’s presence in Africa. He did not, however, spell out what the changes would mean for career diplomats or for embassies that would remain open.
A foreign policy shift brings Bogotá closer to Rabat
More significantly, the planned ambassadorial change follows a major reversal in Colombia’s policy towards Morocco. On August 10, the de la Espriella government announced that it was freezing relations with the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the country’s entire territory, including the Sahara. The decision marked a break with the policy of his predecessor, Gustavo Petro, who restored relations with the separatist entity in 2022.
Bogotá presented the rapprochement as the beginning of a new chapter in relations with Rabat, with plans to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, port infrastructure and logistics.
It is against this backdrop of closer diplomatic ties that Forero’s departure is being prepared. His successor will take up the post in Rabat as both countries seek to turn their newfound political alignment into concrete cooperation projects.
