Rabat – Algeria’s regime has unsurprisingly attempted to downplay the significance of the UN Security Council’s recent historic vote, which explicitly endorsed Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the genuine and sole basis for resolving the dispute over Western Sahara.
During an interview with AL24news, Algerian Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Attaf claimed Morocco had “failed” to make the autonomy plan the exclusive framework for resolving the dispute.
He further alleged that Resolution 2797, adopted on Friday, left room for so-called “alternative options,” arguing that the text reaffirmed the “right to self-determination” under international law.
The interview comes as Algeria’s first official comment following the historic vote, which the Algerian regime notably boycotted. Eleven countries voted in favor of the resolution, while China, Russia, and Pakistan abstained.
Attaf also once again attempted to distance the Algerian regime from its long-standing role in the dispute, alleging that the Polisario remains a recognized party to the dispute.
The regime sees itself as an observer rather than a main party to the dispute, rejecting its role to contribute to finding a political solution, despite hosting, financing, airing, and supporting Polisario’s independence claims.
“The final resolution mentions autonomy but alongside other alternatives, including the one proposed by the Sahrawis themselves. So, the political and diplomatic game remains open: on one side, there is the autonomy proposal, and on the other, alternative solutions remain on the table,” Attaf claimed.
The remarks came as Resolution 2797 urged all parties to the dispute, including Algeria, to engage in discussions without preconditions and with Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the basis of discussions.
It particularly called for maintaining the tradition of organizing roundtable discussions with all four parties – including Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, and the Polisario – to build a momentum and seize the unprecedented opportunity for a lasting peace.
The resolution also omitted any reference or mention of a referendum for the Sahrawi people, which is the main talking point and aspiration of the Polisario Front and its sponsors in Algiers.
Attaf also accused Morocco of seeking to eliminate MINURSO, the UN peacekeeping operation in Western Sahara, “either by dismantling it, dissolving it, or radically changing its mandate.” In reality, Morocco has been a staunch supporter of the UN-led peace process, and the country’s role has even been commended by international observers.
“These Moroccan goals were clearly apparent, which led to strong opposition to the draft resolution from several countries– not only Algeria, but eight in total–that submitted amendments to the text, because it was frankly unfair, unjust, and entirely biased toward one proposal at the expense of the other,” Attaf alleged.
The interview also made no mention of King Mohammed VI’s recent olive branch to Algeria – an open call for dialogue between the two countries. In fact, the Algerian regime turned a deaf ear to Morocco’s commendable appeal to end the stalemate and reopen channels of communication between the two countries.
Attaf’s claims come amid broad international celebrations welcoming the UN Security Council’s new resolution, reaffirming the centrality of Morocco’s Autonomy initiative as the framework for resolving the dispute.
Nearly 40% of African countries officially voiced support for Morocco’s plan, opening consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla as tangible proof of their support.
A total of 23 EU countries have also reaffirmed their backing of Morocco’s initiative, recognizing it as a serious and credible basis for a lasting political solution.
Additionally, nearly 50 countries have withdrawn their recognition of the self-proclaimed SADR, fully putting the separatist group and their Algerian backers in isolation on the world stage.
