Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has declared the beginning of what he described as “a new chapter in consolidating the Moroccanness of the Sahara,” following the United Nations Security Council’s adoption of a resolution calling for negotiations based on the Kingdom’s Autonomy Plan.
In a televised address to the nation on Friday marking the 50th anniversary of the Green March and the 70th anniversary of Morocco’s independence, the monarch said the latest UN resolution represents “a pivotal moment and a crucial turning point in the history of modern Morocco.”
“There is a before October 31, 2025, and an after October 30,” the King said, describing the vote as a definitive step towards closing “once and for all this fabricated conflict” through a consensual solution grounded in Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Initiative.
King Mohammed VI said the Security Council’s latest resolution had “laid out the principles and foundations for achieving a final political solution,” noting that two-thirds of UN member states now view the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the only viable framework for resolving the dispute.
He added that Morocco intends to update and detail its Autonomy Initiative before submitting it to the United Nations “to serve as the sole basis for negotiation.” The King praised the “constructive stances and tireless efforts” of friendly nations that helped bring about what he called a “historic change.”
He expressed particular gratitude to the United States, under President Donald Trump, “whose efforts paved the way for a final settlement,” and also thanked France, Spain, Britain, and the European Union, alongside “Arab and African sister nations” for their consistent support of Morocco’s territorial integrity.
“These developments,” the King said, “should not be seen as a victory for one side over another, but as an opportunity to build a dignified, peaceful solution for all.”
In one of the most striking parts of his speech, the monarch made a direct appeal to the inhabitants of the Tindouf camps in Algeria, urging them to “seize this historic opportunity to reunite with their families” and to benefit from Morocco’s autonomy plan, which he said enables them to “develop their homeland and build their future within a unified Morocco.”
Reaffirming the equality of all citizens, King Mohammed VI stated: “There is no difference between those returning from the Tindouf camps and their brothers and sisters within the homeland.”
He also extended an olive branch to Algeria, calling on President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to “launch a sincere, brotherly dialogue” aimed at overcoming differences and rebuilding relations “based on trust, fraternity, and good neighbourliness.”
The King further reiterated his commitment to reviving the Maghreb Union, describing it as a vital regional project rooted in cooperation and integration among North Africa’s five member states.
King Mohammed VI paid tribute to the Moroccan people, particularly those in the southern provinces, for their “unflinching commitment” to national unity and territorial integrity. He also commended Morocco’s diplomatic corps for its role in promoting the country’s position internationally.
“As we celebrate the anniversary of the glorious Green March,” the monarch said, “we recall, with profound reverence, the immense sacrifices made by the Royal Armed Forces and all branches of our security services to defend the nation’s unity and stability.”
The King concluded his speech with a prayer for the late King Hassan II, architect of the Green March, and for “all the righteous martyrs of the nation,” before declaring that Morocco now stands “on the threshold of a new era — an era of unity, peace, and dignity from Tangier to Lagouira.”
