The United Nations Security Council has postponed the session that was scheduled for Thursday to vote on a new resolution concerning the Moroccan Sahara and the mandate of the UN Mission (MINURSO), following the latest developments in Sudan.
According to the official website of the Security Council, the “MINURSO session,” initially set for 10 a.m. New York time, was removed from Thursday’s agenda and replaced with an emergency meeting dedicated to discussing the ongoing crisis in Sudan. The new date for the Western Sahara session has not yet been announced, though diplomatic sources suggest it may take place on Friday.
This type of postponement is not unprecedented, as the Security Council often adjusts its agenda to prioritize urgent crises, particularly during armed conflicts. Sudan is currently witnessing intense fighting that has resulted in heavy civilian casualties, including among women and children, with reports blaming the Rapid Support Forces for the escalation.
The upcoming Security Council meeting, once rescheduled, is expected to include a vote on a new resolution addressing the renewal of MINURSO’s mandate and advancing the political process toward resolving the dispute within the framework of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan.
Leaked details of the draft resolution—based on the U.S. proposal currently circulating among Council members—suggest that the new text maintains the call for all parties to engage in negotiations “without preconditions” and “on the basis of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan,” which is described as the most serious and credible basis for a lasting political solution.
The draft reportedly calls on the parties concerned—Morocco, Algeria, the Polisario Front, and Mauritania—to resume negotiations aimed at reaching a “mutually acceptable political solution providing genuine autonomy within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty, while guaranteeing the right to self-determination of the population.”
It also includes provisions requesting the UN Secretary-General to brief the Council twice during the renewed mandate—once within six weeks of renewal and again before its expiration—with recommendations on the potential transformation or conclusion of MINURSO based on progress in the political process.
The resolution is expected to extend MINURSO’s mandate for one additional year, while stressing the need to uphold the ceasefire agreements and warning against any escalation that could threaten regional stability.
