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Rabat – Morocco celebrated tonight what the Royal Palace has described as a historic turning point in the long-running Western Sahara dispute. After the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution that places Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Plan at the heart of the political process, King Mohammed VI addressed the nation in a special speech broadcast shortly after the vote. The King described the adoption as the start of a decisive new phase: “There is a before October 31, 2025 era, and an after October 30.”
In his address, the King said Morocco, after 50 years of sacrifices, is “starting a new chapter in the process of consolidating the Moroccanness of the Sahara, and closing, once and for all, this fabricated conflict, within the framework of a consensual solution based on the Autonomy Initiative.”
The speech repeatedly underlined that Morocco seeks a negotiated, dignified settlement “without winners, nor losers.”
The Security Council resolution adopted on Friday affirms that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could constitute a most feasible solution to the dispute and renews the mandate of MINURSO, the UN mission in the territory, until October 2026.
The vote, which passed with a clear majority and without any vetoes from permanent members, represents an important diplomatic success for Rabat. Eleven Member States voted in favor of the vote, including the UK, France, and the US, while three abstained from voting, and none voted against.
‘A pivotal moment and a crucial turning point’
The resolution also calls on the parties to enter negotiations without preconditions, using the autonomy proposal as the negotiation foundation.
The King described the development as a “source of pride,” especially that it coincides with the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Green March and the 70th anniversary of Morocco’s independence.
“This is a pivotal moment and a crucial turning point in the history of modern Morocco,” the monarch stressed, adding that “the time has come for a unified Morocco to emerge – from Tangier to Lagouira – a Morocco whose rights and historical borders would not be infringed upon by anyone.”
The Moroccan autonomy initiative has enjoyed international momentum in recent years, with backing from several Western powers, including the US, France, the UK, and Spain, among others.
“The momentum I have created in recent years has begun to bear fruit on all fronts,” the King said, recalling that two-thirds of UN Member States consider the Autonomy Initiative to be the only framework for resolving the Western Sahara conflict.
In addition, he celebrated the increased recognition of Morocco’s “economic sovereignty” over its southern provinces in Western Sahara from major economic powers like the US, France, the UK, Russia, Spain, and the European Union.
“This means our southern provinces can now become a hub for development and stability, and a major economic centre in the region, including the Sahel and the Sahara,” the monarch stated.
Morocco has steadily built wider international recognition of its Autonomy Plan, and tonight’s vote is the clearest sign yet that that strategy has paid diplomatic dividends. This diplomatic shift has, in turn, left Algeria and Polisario more isolated on the international stage than ever.
