Rabat – Streets across Morocco erupted in celebration on Friday night after the United Nations Security Council voted in favor of a resolution that places Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Plan at the heart of the political process to resolve the Western Sahara dispute.
Today marked a “historic victory” for the country’s diplomacy and unity, as many Moroccans have put it.
From Tetouan to Rabat, Casablanca, Laayoune, and Dakhla, crowds of joyful citizens waved Moroccan flags, sang patriotic songs, and danced in the streets following the adoption of Resolution 2797, which endorses Morocco’s proposal for broad autonomy in the southern provinces under Moroccan sovereignty.
Large groups of residents filled Tetouan’s main squares and the narrow streets of the old medina, proudly displaying the red and green colors of the national flag. Cars honked in celebration, and homes and shop windows were decorated with Moroccan flags.
Meanwhile, in Rabat, hundreds gathered in front of Parliament, waving flags and singing the national anthem. The atmosphere was filled with chants of unity and pride, with citizens describing the moment as “a night that will be remembered.”
“We are proud of our King and our country. This decision is a victory for Morocco and for peace,” said one young man celebrating in downtown Rabat.
And in Morocco’s southern provinces in Western Sahara, including Laayoune, Dakhla, and Guerguerat, thousands of people took to the streets to celebrate the adoption of the new resolution.
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Videos and images shared online show the Mechouar square in Laayoune filled to the brim with citizens waving national flags and singing patriotic songs. Residents expressed joy and pride over this historic moment for the country’s territorial integrity. The celebrations reflected widespread support in the region for Morocco’s diplomatic achievement and the growing international recognition of its sovereignty over the Sahara.
The celebrations came shortly after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2797 on Western Sahara. The resolution passed with 11 votes in favor and none against, with three abstentions. Algeria, which currently holds a non-permanent seat on the Council, chose not to participate in the session.
In a royal speech delivered less than an hour after the vote, King Mohammed VI called the adoption “a pivotal moment and a crucial turning point in the history of modern Morocco.”
The King said Morocco is now entering “a decisive phase” to close the Sahara file once and for all, through a solution based on the Autonomy Initiative. He also invited Morocco’s neighbors to engage in dialogue and cooperation, emphasizing that the country seeks a settlement “without winner, nor loser.”
