The Moroccan royal diwan announced on October 30, 2026, that the UN Security Council did not renew the mandate of the MINURSO mission, a development that marks a significant step towards the definitive closure of the Western Sahara issue within the UN. This decision coincides with the celebration of the "Unity Day," a national holiday established by King Mohammed VI to mark a new approach to dealing with this issue.
The MINURSO mission, which has been present in Morocco's southern regions for 35 years, was a legacy of a bygone era and had become an instrument for internationalizing the regional conflict over the Sahara. The non-renewal of its mandate implies that the mission's presence, including its personnel, vehicles, equipment, and symbols, should come to an end in the coming days.
This development also means that the issue of Western Sahara will no longer be on the UN Security Council's agenda, and there will be no more periodic meetings dedicated to this issue, nor reports from the UN Secretary-General or briefings from his personal envoy. The Moroccan government has expressed satisfaction with this decision, while reaffirming its commitment to a ceasefire and respect for its territorial integrity and national security.
The dynamic launched by King Mohammed VI will continue on both bilateral and regional levels, having already garnered significant support from over two-thirds of UN member states, including permanent members of the Security Council and influential international powers, for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the only framework for resolving this regional conflict.
Separately, French writer and thinker Boualam Ganssal expressed his preference for confrontation and expressing his convictions over silence and fear, saying he was not sorry for his previous statements about the Algerian-Moroccan border.
The Moroccan Ministry of Interior has begun consultations with political parties to prepare for the 2027 elections, in line with the King's instructions. The ministry held a second consultative meeting with leaders and officials of political parties on October 29, 2026, to discuss the legal and organizational arrangements for the upcoming elections.
On a related note, the Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces received the new commander of the MINURSO mission, Major General Joao Antonio Guedes Pinto, on October 29, 2026, to discuss the mission's activities and express appreciation for the levels of coordination between the Moroccan military and the UN mission.
Key points
- Moroccan autonomy initiative gains international support
- MINURSO mission to end its presence in southern Morocco
- 2027 elections preparations underway in Morocco
