As Morocco prepares to celebrate Throne Day, the occasion offers an opportunity to reflect on the major achievements that have marked the reign of King Mohammed VI, notably the historic adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797, a breakthrough widely seen as the culmination of more than two decades of sustained efforts led by the Sovereign to consolidate international recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and position the autonomy initiative as the sole basis for resolving the dispute.
The adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797 marked a historic milestone in Morocco’s legitimate quest to consolidate international support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and its Autonomy Initiative.
According to Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, the breakthrough was the result of a long-term Royal vision that has guided Morocco’s diplomacy since the King’s accession to the Throne in 1999.
Bourita had said that King Mohammed VI played a direct role in securing the vote, personally engaging with world leaders in the days preceding the Security Council session and helping rally the support necessary for the resolution’s adoption.
The King declared a National Day- under the name of Unity Day- to commemorate the vote.
According to the Royal Office, Unity Day will serve as a national occasion to celebrate Morocco’s unity, sovereignty and attachment to its sacred values.
In an address to the Nation following the Security Council vote, King Mohammed VI described the moment as a pivotal stage and a decisive turning point in the history of modern Morocco, declaring that there would be a before and an after October 31, 2025.
Morocco’s King had made it clear in a previous speech that the Sahara is “the prism” through which Morocco assesses the sincerity of partnerships. This doctrine signaled that Morocco would pursue diplomacy based on clarity, reciprocity and the firm defense of its national interests.
Under the Sovereign’s leadership, that vision gradually reshaped international perceptions of the Sahara issue and helped generate unprecedented support for Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative. Today, major powers including the United States, France, Spain and the United Kingdom consider the Moroccan proposal the most credible, realistic and serious basis for a lasting political solution to the dispute.
The Royal strategy also extended across Africa. Morocco’s return to the African Union in 2017, coupled with sustained diplomatic engagement led by the King, contributed to broadening support for the Kingdom’s position among African nations and strengthening Morocco’s influence on the continent.
Another hallmark of King Mohammed VI’s approach has been his commitment to advancing regional peace and dialogue. While Algeria- decades long supporter of separatism in southern Morocco- unilaterally cut diplomatic ties with Morocco in 2021, the Sovereign has repeatedly reaffirmed that Morocco’s “outstretched hand” remains extended toward its eastern neighbor.
The King has consistently stressed that the peoples of Morocco and Algeria share deep historical, cultural and geographic bonds and that Maghreb integration remains a strategic objective despite political differences.
