The UN Security Council on Friday adopted a resolution calling for the resumption of negotiations on Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Plan as a realistic and lasting solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. The resolution, tabled by the United States, marks a significant development in the long-standing peace process.
The resolution received 11 votes in favor, while three countries abstained, and one—Algeria—did not participate in the vote. The decision came following extensive deliberations held behind closed doors at the UN headquarters in New York.
Following the adoption, the U.S. representative to the United Nations described the vote as a “historic moment to achieve long-awaited peace”, praising the efforts of UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Staffan de Mistura for his continued work to relaunch serious negotiations among the concerned parties.
The U.S. envoy reaffirmed Washington’s full support for the UN’s leadership in facilitating a political process. The diplomat also commended the MINURSO mission for its contribution to maintaining stability and assisting the UN envoy’s efforts.
The American representative further announced that the United States supports extending MINURSO’s mandate until October 2026, noting that Washington remains “determined to advance a mutually acceptable political solution based on Morocco’s Autonomy Plan.”
Concluding the statement, the U.S. envoy urged all parties to engage in direct negotiations in the coming weeks, emphasizing that the United States “will spare no effort to facilitate this process and help achieve a final settlement to this decades-long conflict.”
