UN Security Council Signals Support for Morocco‘s Western Sahara Autonomy Plan
UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations Security Council is demonstrating increasing alignment with Morocco’s proposal for autonomy in Western Sahara, a disputed territory in North Africa, amid shifting geopolitical priorities adn a reevaluation of UN funding by the United States. While a formal resolution has not been passed, recent discussions and statements signal a growing openness to Morocco’s plan as a potential path forward after decades of stalled negotiations.
The evolving stance comes as the UN mission in Western Sahara, MINURSO, faces potential budget cuts from the U.S.,which is adopting an “a la carte approach” to funding UN programs. This shift in U.S. policy, coupled with a lack of progress in resolving the decades-long conflict-described by the UN as “low-level hostilities”-has prompted a reassessment of the UN’s role and the viability of a long-held push for a referendum on self-determination.
Morocco views international support for its autonomy plan as a key indicator of its diplomatic standing. Last October, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura proposed partitioning Western Sahara, a suggestion rejected by both Morocco and the Polisario Front, the sahrawi independence movement. De Mistura urged Morocco to provide further details on its autonomy proposal and cautioned that continued impasse could question the UN’s continued relevance in the region.
The United States has been reducing funding for UN programs and peacekeeping operations, arguing that the UN’s budget and agencies are inefficient. U.S. officials have pledged to halt new contributions while conducting a complete review of all UN agencies and programs. This funding review adds further pressure on the UN to demonstrate progress in resolving protracted conflicts like the one in Western Sahara.
The situation impacts not only Morocco and the Polisario Front, but also regional stability in North Africa and the broader international community’s commitment to resolving long-standing territorial disputes. the Security Council is expected to continue discussions on Western Sahara in the coming months, with a focus on exploring the feasibility of Morocco’s autonomy plan and the future of MINURSO.
