UN Security Council Poised to Back Morocco's Claim on Western Sahara

The United Nations Security Council is expected to vote on a transformative resolution that supports Morocco’s sovereignty over the contested Western Sahara region. This resolution signals the Council's strongest endorsement yet of Morocco's autonomy plan, a move aligned with U.S. support and gaining traction among European Union members and African nations.

If the resolution passes, it would mark a significant shift by omitting references to a referendum on self-determination for the region’s Sahrawi people. Instead, it emphasizes Morocco's sovereignty as a basis for negotiations, despite potential opposition from Algeria, Russia, and China. The resolution further calls for a renewal of the long-standing UN peacekeeping mission in the area.

The outcome of this vote could reignite tensions with the Polisario Front and those supporting the region's independence, particularly after the collapse of the 1991 ceasefire. The UN's role in the process is now under scrutiny, as U.S. officials push for a reassessment of funding for UN operations, promoting a selective approach to align with their foreign policy priorities.