UN Security Council Backs Morocco's Claim to Western Sahara in Historic Vote
In a move likely to reignite tensions with Algeria, the United Nations Security Council has approved a resolution supporting Morocco's claim to Western Sahara, with 11 countries voting in favour and three – Russia, China, and Pakistan – abstaining. The US-backed resolution offers Morocco its strongest endorsement yet for keeping sovereignty over the disputed territory, which also has backing from most European Union members and a growing number of African allies.
Despite Algeria's vehement opposition, the resolution falls short of acknowledging the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination through independence. Instead, it suggests "genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could constitute a most feasible solution," essentially paving the way for Morocco to maintain control over the territory.
The vote marks a significant shift in the long-stalled peace process, which has been stalled since a 1991 ceasefire that was meant to pave the way for a referendum on self-determination. Over the years, Morocco has made significant investments in the region, including constructing a deepwater port and a highway, but the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, Russia, and China, remains committed to the principle of independence.
The resolution's passage has sparked widespread protests in Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria, where demonstrators have vowed not to give up their fight for self-determination. Morocco controls nearly all of Western Sahara, except for a narrow strip known as the "free zone" that lies east of a Moroccan-built sand wall.
The UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara has been extended for another year, but its mandate remains unchanged. The resolution calls on all parties involved to "seize this unprecedented opportunity for a lasting peace," with Secretary-General António Guterres expected to review the peacekeeping mission's mandate within six months if progress is made.
As the conflict continues to simmer, Morocco views the resolution as a major victory, with its king, Mohammed VI, hailing it as an "opening of a new and victorious chapter" in the region. However, for the Polisario Front, the vote represents a significant blow to their bid for independence and may mark the beginning of a new era of confrontation.
With the US taking an increasingly assertive stance on regional issues, its funding priorities are set to have a major impact on the UN's ability to resolve conflicts like that in Western Sahara. As the United States slashes funding for UN programmes and agencies, including peacekeeping, it remains to be seen whether the UN will be able to remain relevant in the region.
In a move likely to reignite tensions with Algeria, the United Nations Security Council has approved a resolution supporting Morocco's claim to Western Sahara, with 11 countries voting in favour and three – Russia, China, and Pakistan – abstaining. The US-backed resolution offers Morocco its strongest endorsement yet for keeping sovereignty over the disputed territory, which also has backing from most European Union members and a growing number of African allies.
Despite Algeria's vehement opposition, the resolution falls short of acknowledging the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination through independence. Instead, it suggests "genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could constitute a most feasible solution," essentially paving the way for Morocco to maintain control over the territory.
The vote marks a significant shift in the long-stalled peace process, which has been stalled since a 1991 ceasefire that was meant to pave the way for a referendum on self-determination. Over the years, Morocco has made significant investments in the region, including constructing a deepwater port and a highway, but the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, Russia, and China, remains committed to the principle of independence.
The resolution's passage has sparked widespread protests in Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria, where demonstrators have vowed not to give up their fight for self-determination. Morocco controls nearly all of Western Sahara, except for a narrow strip known as the "free zone" that lies east of a Moroccan-built sand wall.
The UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara has been extended for another year, but its mandate remains unchanged. The resolution calls on all parties involved to "seize this unprecedented opportunity for a lasting peace," with Secretary-General António Guterres expected to review the peacekeeping mission's mandate within six months if progress is made.
As the conflict continues to simmer, Morocco views the resolution as a major victory, with its king, Mohammed VI, hailing it as an "opening of a new and victorious chapter" in the region. However, for the Polisario Front, the vote represents a significant blow to their bid for independence and may mark the beginning of a new era of confrontation.
With the US taking an increasingly assertive stance on regional issues, its funding priorities are set to have a major impact on the UN's ability to resolve conflicts like that in Western Sahara. As the United States slashes funding for UN programmes and agencies, including peacekeeping, it remains to be seen whether the UN will be able to remain relevant in the region.
, this is crazy! I mean, I get it, Morocco's been trying to claim that territory for ages, but come on, Algeria's all like "Hey, no way, we're gonna fight for our people's rights!" 
. And now the UN is basically saying "yeah, Morocco can just do whatever it wants"... that doesn't sit well with me at all 
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. It's like, we're supposed to be a global community that cares about human rights, but it feels like we're just letting Morocco walk all over the Sahrawi people 
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. It's like, maybe they should try working with the UN instead of slashing their funding and expecting them to do all the work? 
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I'm not gonna lie, this resolution smells like a dirty deal to me.
it's like they're setting the stage for a massive conflict just because of politics and who gets to control the land is so heartbreaking 
Morocco might see this as a win but for the people living there, it's all about self-determination and having their voices heard 
it's crazy how much investment one country can make in an area without giving its people real autonomy 
I hope the UN peacekeeping mission can do something to prevent another war from breaking out 
we need more than just words, we need action 
the us backing it up doesn't make it right either, especially since they're like cutting funding for un peacekeeping missions which are supposed to be helping resolve these kinds of conflicts not fueling them 
it's all about Morocco getting its strongest endorsement yet 
I don't get why Algeria can't just calm down 
but then again, this is a classic case of the US backing Morocco because of their economic interests 
this whole thing is super messy 
anyway, this is gonna be super interesting to see how things play out now 
and I hope the UN can step up its game with less US funding 
And what about Algeria? They're already getting pretty upset about this... 
. i mean, the US is backing morocco but at what cost? 
. this whole thing is so complicated and i'm worried about what's going to happen next 
it's just not fair to these people who are fighting for their rights.
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about this news! morocco just got like a full on stamp of approval from the un sc council 
and i'm living for it 
i mean, who doesn't love a good underdog story 
? morocco's all about that self-determination life and i am HERE. FOR. IT 
and tbh, those african allies are coming through in a big way 
and we should def be keeping an eye on it 
. The whole situation feels like a recipe for disaster. I feel bad for the Sahrawi people who want independence, but at the same time, I get why Morocco would want control over the territory 
Their fight for self-determination is being ignored again by the international community 
Is it just a power struggle between countries or is there more to it? 
I wish the UN peacekeeping mission could do more to help them find a solution 
The US funding priorities are worrying too - will that put more pressure on the Sahrawi people to give up? 
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And let's be real, the US cutting funding to UN programs isn't exactly a surprise...but maybe this will prompt them to rethink their priorities and find new ways to support the peace process. 