UN Security Council Adopts Historic Resolution: Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the Sole Basis for Sahara Solution

In a move described as a “historic turning point,” the UN Security Council yesterday adopted a resolution ending decades of deadlock over the Moroccan Sahara, providing explicit and unprecedented support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the sole basis for any settlement. With 11 major countries voting in favor and Russia and China abstaining, the resolution cements a growing international consensus: the solution lies not in division, but in unity under Moroccan sovereignty.The Security Council adopted the resolution by a majority of 11 votes out of 15, led by the United States (penholder), along with the United Kingdom, France, Greece, Panama, and South Korea. China, Russia, and Pakistan abstained, while one country did not participate in the vote. This tally is more than numbers; it signals a clear decline in support for separatism and the rise of a global conviction that autonomy is the only practical option.The Council reaffirmed its full backing for the Moroccan initiative as a framework for a “just, lasting, and mutually acceptable” solution, in line with the UN Charter. It called on all parties—the Kingdom of Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania—to engage in negotiations “without preconditions,” welcoming any constructive proposals in response. This focus positions autonomy as “the most viable” path, effectively closing the door on alternative options.The resolution urged all parties to join discussions without preconditions, based on the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the most feasible solution, encouraging ideas to support a mutually acceptable final outcome. It also called on member states to provide support for the negotiations and the Personal Envoy’s efforts, while renewing the mandate of the MINURSO mission until October 31, 2026, in accordance with the Secretary-General’s recommendation.It emphasized the role of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy in facilitating talks, while stressing respect for the ceasefire and avoidance of any escalation. The MINURSO mandate was extended until October 31, 2026, with the Secretary-General required to submit regular briefings and a comprehensive review within six months. It also praised Washington’s readiness to host rounds of talks, bolstering U.S. momentum.The Council further commended the U.S. willingness to host negotiations and highlighted the severe funding shortfall for Sahrawi refugees, urging donors to provide additional support and conduct a comprehensive registration of refugees in the Tindouf camps. The Secretary-General was instructed to deliver regular briefings to the Security Council, including a full review within six months to assess the mission’s future strategy based on negotiation outcomes. This step is not merely humanitarian; it represents indirect pressure for greater transparency, undermining separatist claims.The resolution comes amid a shifting global landscape marked by expanding recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces and a growing conviction among major powers that autonomy is the sole practical solution to the conflict. It also aligns with a strategic U.S. push for a peace agreement that strengthens stability in North Africa, within a broader vision of new international balances and the fight against separatist tendencies—making it a crowning achievement for successful Moroccan diplomacy that has entrenched the credibility of the Moroccan solution as the final framework.

By Abdelhamid Hamid Al-Kba