The United Nations Security Council has voted to extend the mandate of its Western Sahara peacekeeping mission, MINURSO, for another year but this time with a major diplomatic shift. In a U.S.-sponsored resolution adopted on Friday, the Council formally endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan as the sole basis for resolving the long-running territorial dispute, drawing sharp criticism from Algeria, South Africa, and the Polisario Front. The resolution passed with 11 votes in favor, 3 abstentions, and one absence, marking the first time the UN has explicitly backed Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Proposal over a traditional “mutually acceptable solution.” The plan grants limited self-governance to Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty a position increasingly supported by Western powers, including the United States, France, and Spain.
Strong Reactions from Opponents
Algeria which supports the Polisario Front’s push for full independence — abstained, warning that the resolution “undermines the UN’s principle of decolonization.” South Africa, also abstaining, criticized the decision as “non-inclusive and contrary to international law.” In a statement from Tindouf, Polisario’s U.N. representative Sidi Omar condemned the move, saying it “legitimizes occupation” and reaffirmed the group’s commitment to continue its armed struggle for self-determination.
A Conflict with No End in Sight
Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, has been disputed since Morocco annexed it in 1975, sparking a guerrilla war with the Polisario Front that ended in a 1991 ceasefire under UN supervision. MINURSO was created that same year to monitor the truce and prepare a referendum on self-determination, a vote that has never taken place. The new resolution reflects a broader realignment in global diplomacy, as more countries back Morocco’s position following the U.S. recognition of Moroccan sovereignty in 2020. However, analysts warn that the endorsement risks deepening regional tensions and alienating Algeria and much of Africa, where support for Western Sahara’s independence remains strong. For now, MINURSO’s mandate continues but with the peace process more divided than ever.
