UN reaffirms support for Moroccan autonomy in the Sahara
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Lebrief, Le Matin, Kassataya and Libération (Maroc)
A large majority of countries reaffirmed on 10 November in New York their support for the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative under the sovereignty of the Kingdom, presented as a serious, credible and realistic basis for a lasting political settlement in the Sahara, according to Libération. The position came during a General Assembly session devoted to the Russian veto of 30 October.
The US ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, regretted that the Russian veto had prevented the adoption on 30 October of a US draft resolution that had received 11 votes out of 15 on the Security Council. He recalled that Resolution 2797, adopted in 2025, had established the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative as the basis for negotiations and said the US draft would have extended MINURSO’s mandate by 12 months. He said the United States would continue its efforts with the parties and the UN to reach a lasting settlement to a 50-year-old conflict.
France reaffirmed that the future of the Sahara falls within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty and that the autonomy plan provides the path towards a negotiated political solution. Its ambassador, Jérôme Bonnafont, stressed that Resolution 2797 had enabled the resumption of direct negotiations and that Morocco had done considerable work on its autonomy plan.
The United Kingdom described the Moroccan initiative as a credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting settlement. The GCC countries renewed their support for the Moroccan character of the Sahara and for autonomy. The European Union, for its part, backed the UN-led political process and negotiations based on this proposal.
In Africa, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Comoros, Madagascar, Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea reaffirmed their support. The Ivorian representative said the initiative was supported by about 130 states, including three permanent members of the Security Council.
Update of 11 November 2026: The United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Djibouti reaffirmed on 11 November before the UN General Assembly their support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco to settle the dispute over the Sahara. Read: Three countries reaffirm support for Moroccan autonomy.
