UN Security Council supports Morocco’s plan for Western Sahara

According to a resolution from the UN Security Council, a 50-year conflict between Rabat and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front may lead to a legitimate autonomy for the Western Sahara under Moroccan control.

The longest-running territorial dispute in Africa, which spans the size of Britain and dates back to the colonial period when Morocco annexed the region in 1975, has affected Western Sahara, a desert region that spans the size of Britain.

In a text written in the United States, the UNSC on Friday demanded that the parties engage in negotiations based on a Moroccan-led UN initiative to establish autonomy.

The Polisario Front wants to create an independent state known as the Sahrawi Republic, but Morocco views the region as its own.

After the vote on Friday, US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told the council, “We urge all parties to use the upcoming weeks to come to the table and engage in serious discussions.” We think regional harmony is possible this year, and we will make every effort to advance that direction.

Algeria did not cast a ballot, while China, Pakistan, and Russia all abstained. The resolution, which was approved by the remaining 11 council members, also renewed for a year the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)’s mandate.

After the vote, Algeria’s UN ambassador Amar Bendjama told the council that “the final decision on the future cannot and must not be made by anyone other than the people who are under colonial dominance.” The Polisario Front’s proposals are ignored in this text because they are parties to the conflict and must be heard.

A “victory chapter”

The residents of Western Sahara would elect a local legislative, executive, and judicial body under Morocco’s proposal for autonomy, while Rabat would have exclusive authority over defense, foreign affairs, and religious matters.

Instead, the Polisario wants to conduct a referendum on whether to choose independence.

After the UN vote, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI declared that the country is seeking a “face-saving” solution for all parties involved in the conflict. He urged Algeria’s southwestern Algerian refugees who were held under the Polisario to support autonomy.

Morocco is committed to the Maghreb Union, according to the king, who also reiterated his call for a “brotherly dialogue” with Algeria.

In a speech where he expressed his “immense pride,” King Mohammed said, “We are opening a new and victorious chapter in the process of enshrining the Moroccan character of the Sahara.

In Morocco’s cities, thousands of people gathered to chant patriotic songs and flags while celebrating the election.

Sidi Omar, a representative for the Polisario Front, claimed that the resolution doesn’t mean that Morocco has any authority over the Western Sahara. He claimed that the Polisario Front leadership would review the UN resolution and publish a statement of intent soon.

In addition, the Security Council resolution directed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to provide a “strategic review regarding MINURSO’s future mandate, taking into account the outcome of the negotiations” within six months.

In July, US President Donald Trump reaffirmed his support for Morocco’s claim to have sovereignty over the Western Sahara and that the territory’s autonomous plan was the only option. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy, claimed the US is pursuing an agreement involving Algeria and Morocco.