UN-Sahara: Washington & its allies’ historic vote for Morocco’s territorial integrity

The UN Security Council has voted overwhelmingly for a resolution supporting clearly Morocco’s Autonomy plan offered for the Sahara under the Kingdom’s sovereignty as a credible basis for negotiations.

The landmark resolution, which extends MINURSO mandate for one year, was approved Friday with 11 votes in favor to none against, 3 abstentions (China, Pakistan, and Russia), while Algeria did not participate in the vote.

Explaining his country’s vote, the Representative of the United States, which drafted the text and led negotiations on it, welcomed “today’s historic vote, which seizes upon this unique moment and builds on the momentum for a long, long overdue peace in Sahara”.

“We’ve made a genuine effort to incorporate everyone’s proposals, and they were quite numerous from across the Council,” he recalled, adding that the United States and its President Donald J. Trump are resolute in their “support for peace”.

He urged all parties to use the coming weeks to engage in serious discussions, using Morocco’s “credible and realistic” autonomy proposal as “the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute”.

The Representative of France said the present and future of Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty. “Autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the framework within which this issue must be resolved,” he said.

Panama’s delegate recognized Morocco’s efforts and considered the 2007 autonomy plan to be a suitable basis for advancing towards a lasting solution. He called on all parties (Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and Polisario) to resume negotiations in good faith under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy.

The representative of the United Kingdom welcomed the resolution’s reference to Morocco’s 2007 autonomy proposal as “the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a solution”. The adoption of today’s text is “the start, not the end, of the process to find a mutually acceptable solution”, he added.

Sierra Leone’s representative highlighted the international momentum in support of the Moroccan autonomy initiative, affirming that “it is time to explore this option as the path toward an acceptable political solution.”

Slovenia’s representative said his delegation voted in favor of the resolution in support of MINURSO and to address “a need and an opportunity for real progress towards a just, lasting and mutually acceptable solution” to the nearly 50-year conflict.

Welcoming all efforts to bring the parties together, he said this process should “take place on an equal footing and take into account the positions and proposals of all parties.”

Denmark’s representative said Morocco’s autonomy plan is a good basis for a solution agreed upon between the parties, urging them to engage constructively and in good faith towards a mutually acceptable solution.

The representatives of Greece and Somalia joined others in voicing hope that the parties, following the adoption of the resolution, will engage in good-faith negotiations towards a mutually acceptable solution.

The UN Security Council 2797 (2025) expressed “its full support for the Secretary General and his Personal Envoy in facilitating and conducting negotiations taking as basis Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable resolution to the dispute, consistent with the UN Charter” and welcomed “any constructive suggestions by the parties in response to the Autonomy Proposal.”

The 15-member organ also called upon the parties to the dispute to “engage in these discussions without preconditions, taking as basis Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal, with a view to achieving a final and mutually acceptable political solution.”

The Council also requested the Secretary General to submit a strategic review within six months on MINURSO’s future mandate, considering the progress of the talks.