UN Security Council Vote Marks Historic Milestone on Sahara Issue
The adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797 represents a significant breakthrough in the Sahara conflict, culminating over 26 years of diplomatic efforts led by King Mohammed VI to defend Morocco’s historic rights over its southern provinces.
Key Aspects of the Resolution
- The resolution establishes Morocco’s autonomy plan as the exclusive framework for negotiations.
- It extends the mandate of MINURSO until October 31, 2026.
- The text was streamlined from 43 paragraphs in 2024 to 14, removing references to human rights and mentioning humanitarian issues only once.
- Morocco’s autonomy initiative is mentioned six times, highlighting its central role.
- The resolution clearly identifies the parties involved: Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania.
- A one-year deadline for negotiations is set, under UN envoy Staffan de Mistura’s supervision.
Statements by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita
“The rules of the game have changed,” Bourita declared, noting that “no state opposed the resolution.”
“This is historic because it defines the framework and the actors,” he added.
Bourita described the vote as the culmination of 26 years of relentless work by King Mohammed VI to protect Morocco’s territorial integrity and unity. Behind the scenes, Morocco secured strong international backing, with nine votes confirmed by October 29.
Summary
The Security Council vote crowns decades of diplomatic effort by King Mohammed VI, solidifying Morocco’s autonomy plan as the negotiation framework and reinforcing its territorial claims.