The UN Security Council is scheduled to vote on a US-proposed resolution concerning the Moroccan Sahara. According to the Council's work program, the vote will determine the future of the region. The resolution supports Morocco's autonomy initiative as the sole basis for negotiation. This move transforms the UN's peacekeeping mission in the region, MINURSO, into MINUSO, dropping the reference to a referendum.
The proposed resolution outlines several key points. It calls for broader consultations with a wider range of Sahrawi interlocutors. Additionally, it mandates the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to conduct a census of the population in Tindouf refugee camps within six months, without interference. The resolution also facilitates negotiations through the United States and the UN Secretary-General's personal envoy.
The resolution's adoption requires nine votes out of fifteen, with no veto from a permanent member. The Council currently consists of fifteen members, including five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Other members include the Danemark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia, whose terms end this year. Notably, Algeria, a key player in the region, is not a current member of the Council.
The latest version of the resolution has undergone significant changes. A previous draft from October 20 had included stricter measures, such as a 50% reduction in uniformed personnel by January 31, 2027, and a planned end to the peacekeeping mission by April 30, 2027. However, these provisions were removed in the updated version. Instead, the Secretary-General is tasked with presenting detailed proposals on the mission's structure, personnel, and resources by January 30, 2027.
The voting outcome remains uncertain, with no official positions announced before the vote. Moroccan officials, including the head of government and the Foreign Minister, were in Moscow for the Russia-Africa summit, where the Foreign Minister met with his Russian counterpart. The adopted text may still differ from circulated versions, as negotiations between delegations continue up to the vote.
The mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the region is set to expire on October 31. Previous attempts to adopt a resolution have faced challenges, with the Russia, China, and Pakistan abstaining during the adoption of Resolution 2797 on October 31, 2025. The current resolution's prospects for adoption are unclear, pending the outcome of the vote.
The UN Security Council's decision will have significant implications for the Moroccan Sahara region. The region has been a longstanding dispute, with Morocco claiming sovereignty and the Polisario Front seeking independence. The adopted resolution will shape the future of the region and the role of the UN in addressing the conflict.
Key points
- The UN Security Council is voting on a US-proposed resolution supporting Morocco's autonomy initiative for the Moroccan Sahara.
- The resolution drops the reference to a referendum and transforms the UN peacekeeping mission in the region.
- The adoption requires nine votes out of fifteen, with no veto from a permanent member.
