UN Security Council Approves Morocco's Plan for Western Sahara

U.S. Pushes Forward a Resolution That Overlooks the Referendum

The UN Security Council approved on Friday a resolution, sponsored by the United States and tempered by Russia and China, that marks a historic shift in the Western Sahara conflict by backing the Moroccan plan.

“Genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty constitutes a highly feasible solution,” the text reads.

The resolution passed with 11 votes in favor, three abstentions (Russia and China, which gave up their veto) and Algeria’s refusal to participate, arguing that the Sahrawi people—subjected to colonialism—are left without a voice.

The measure renews the UN peacekeeping mission (MINURSO) for another year in the former Spanish colony, a practice that has continued for more than three decades. This time, any reference to a referendum has been removed.

“Welcome to a historic vote,” said U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz. “This is a unique moment to achieve peace in Western Sahara.”
“President Trump is committed and we support a mutually acceptable solution. We urge all parties to sit at the table in the coming weeks and engage in serious discussions using Morocco’s realistic and credible proposal as the sole basis for a solution.”

The resolution makes the Moroccan plan the foundation and eliminates any mention of a self‑determination referendum for Western Sahara—a territory that was Spanish until 50 years ago and, after the Green March, has been largely controlled by Morocco. The previous UN‑backed framework had enjoyed the support of Algeria, Russia and China.

This approval by the UN’s executive organ gives a strong boost to Morocco’s initiative to maintain sovereignty over the territory, a stance also embraced by most EU members, such as Spain, and a growing number of African allies.

However, the decision is set to provoke the anger of Algeria and the Polisario Front, which, amid rumors about the U.S. draft—now heavily softened so Russia and China would not veto—stated they will reject “any process to legitimize Morocco’s illegal military occupation.”

Following the 1991 cease‑fire agreement, the Polisario withdrew from the pact in 2020 after clashes near a road that Rabat was paving toward Mauritania. Since then, the group has reported military activities, while Morocco denies an open conflict. The UN describes the situation as “low‑level hostilities.”

Western Sahara is a desert coastal strip rich in phosphates, known as the “free zone,” located east of a sand wall built by Morocco. Both Morocco and the Polisario claim the area; the Polisario conducts its independence struggle from refugee camps in southwestern Algeria and claims to represent the Sahrawi people of the disputed territory.