Celebrations erupted across Morocco this weekend after the United Nations Security Council voted to extend the mandate of its peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara and gave its strongest backing yet to Rabat’s autonomy plan for the disputed territory. Friday’s resolution drafted by the United States passed with 11 votes in favor, while Russia, China, and Pakistan abstained. Algeria, the main backer of the Polisario Front, did not participate in the vote. he decision marks a significant diplomatic win for Morocco, with the UN describing autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as “the most realistic and feasible path” toward ending the decades-old conflict.
In a rare televised address, King Mohammed VI welcomed what he called a “historic transformation” in global support for Morocco’s position. “After 50 years of sacrifice, we are turning a new page toward the definitive settlement of this artificial conflict,” the King said, linking the UN vote to the 70th anniversary of Morocco’s independence. He also extended an olive branch to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, calling for renewed dialogue between the neighboring nations. The Western Sahara dispute dates back to 1975, when Spain withdrew from the territory. Morocco annexed most of the area, while the Algeria-backed Polisario Front declared an independent Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, sparking a war that ended with a 1991 ceasefire monitored by the UN mission MINURSO.
The latest UN resolution notably omits any mention of a referendum on self-determination — a long-standing demand of the Polisario and its allies — and instead urges all sides to “seize this unprecedented opportunity for lasting peace.” Morocco’s autonomy plan, first presented to the UN in 2007, proposes self-governance for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty. It now enjoys growing backing from most EU countries, several African nations, and Washington, which first endorsed the plan in 2020 under former President Donald Trump. However, Algeria and the Polisario Front rejected the resolution, accusing the UN of abandoning neutrality. Polisario leaders vowed to continue their struggle for full independence, warning that the Security Council’s move risks reigniting tensions across the Sahel region.
