HIBAPRESS: The international news agency Reuters reported that the United Nations Security Council will vote tomorrow, Friday, on a draft American resolution that considers that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could constitute the most realistic and applicable solution to end the conflict over the Sahara, which has been ongoing for nearly fifty years.
The agency stated that the Moroccan autonomy initiative, which Morocco first put forward in 2007, provides for the establishment of executive, legislative, and judicial institutions elected by the region's population, with Rabat retaining its competencies in the areas of defense, foreign affairs, and religious affairs. It pointed out that the Polisario Front rejects this proposal and adheres to the option of holding a self-determination referendum that includes the possibility of independence. Reuters added that the American draft resolution needs at least nine supporting votes within the Security Council without any of the five permanent member states (the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain) using the “veto” right. However, the positions of Russia and China are still unclear. The agency explained that the proposed text, which it reviewed, adopts the autonomy initiative as a basis for negotiations between the concerned parties, at a time when Algeria is seeking to amend this wording. It noted that the Polisario Front announced its refusal to participate in any negotiations based on this decision, while Algeria warned that it would not vote in its favor if it included explicit support for the autonomy proposal. According to Reuters, the draft resolution also includes the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations mission “MINURSO” for a full year instead of six months as in the previous formulation, with a request to the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, to provide a strategic review of the mission's work within six months, taking into account the developments of the political process. The agency concluded its report by noting that US President Donald Trump had renewed his support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara last July, considering that the autonomy initiative "represents the only realistic solution to the conflict," while his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, confirmed that the United States is working to bring the views of Morocco and Algeria closer together with the aim of reaching a lasting peace agreement.
