The U.S.-written draft resolution backed Morocco’s autonomy plan and omitted Sahrawi self-determination.

On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) postponed the vote on the renewal of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). The vote will take place Friday, the day the mission expires, because the final text is still being negotiated until the last minute.

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The first draft of the resolution, written by the United States, prioritized Western Sahara’s autonomy within the borders of the Kingdom of Morocco, omitting the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination — a principle established when MINURSO was created in 1991.

This draft provoked divisions among UNSC members, as Russia and China — which have consistently supported the right to self-determination — hold veto power.

The initial draft extended the mission for six months and endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only viable solution. However, the final version to be voted on Friday does include references to the principle of self-determination and considers the Moroccan autonomy plan as a basis “without preconditions.”

If MINURSO is not renewed on Friday, it would open an unpredictable scenario, as it is the only UN mechanism on the ground responsible for monitoring the ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front. Without its continuation, the main communication channel between the parties would be lost, increasing the risk of military escalation and dealing a major blow to diplomatic efforts.

In 1991, the U.N. deployed the mission under what was known as the “Initial Settlement Plan,” accepted by both Morocco and the Popular Front, which envisioned a referendum allowing the people of Western Sahara to decide the territory’s future status.

Since then, that referendum has never been held due to obstacles created by Morocco, which has blocked census figures because they would favor the independence movement.

For his part, the U.N. special envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, has urged all parties — including Algeria — to participate in dialogue tables before the end of 2025, warning that “a prolonged diplomatic paralysis could trigger a dangerous military drift with regional and global consequences.”

In 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, although the U.N. still defines the region as a “non-self-governing territory” awaiting decolonization.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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