After the adoption of the new resolution, several diplomats lauded Morocco’s autonomy plan as the serious and credible political solution to the Sahara conflict.
Rabat – Thirteen members of the Security Council supported the adoption of Resolution 2486, which extended the mandate of MINURSO in Western Sahara for six months.
Both the US and France, two permanent members of the UN Security Council, welcomed the adoption of the resolution.
French Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Anne Gueguen, said that it is important for the four parties involved in the conflict to “continue their discussions in a custructive state of mind and compromise to reach a “realistic, pragmatic, just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution in accordance with security council resolutions.”
The diplomat also recalled her country’s position on Morocco’s Autonomy Plan.
“I take this opportunity to reaffirm that France considers the 2007 Moroccan autonomy plan as a serious and credible basis for discussions,” she said. The diplomat also reiterated French support for the UN-led political process.
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In addition to France, the US also welcomed the adoption of the resolution. The US representative to the UN, Rodney Hunter, said that the ongoing talks between the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Horst Koler and the parties involved in the conflict—Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and Polisario—are “essential to lay the foundations for a negotiated solution.”
Cote d’Ivoire, a non permanent member at the Security Council, also welcomed the adoption of Resolution 2468.
Kuwait, non permanent member at the Security Council, also reiterated its support for Morocco’s autonomy plan.
Kuwait backed Morocco’s territorial integrity, expressing respect of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed region.
Russia and South Africa, however, both abstained from the vote and believe that the text of the resolution is “unbalanced.”
Following the vote, South Africa, a Polisario supporter, expressed frustration over the text of the resolution.
South African representative to the UN Jerry Matjila said after the vote: “This is again an example of an African issue being decided by those that are not from the continent.”
