RT.com
31 Oct 2025, 15:25 GMT+10
The Council will vote to renew a mission in Western Sahara and consider a US-drafted measure to resolve the decades-long Morocco-Polisario conflict
The UN Security Council (UNSC) is set to vote on a draft resolution promoting Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara as the preferred political solution to a territorial conflict that has long destabilized North African geopolitics.
The council will also decide on renewing the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) at its meeting on Friday. MINURSO was established in 1991 to oversee a ceasefire between Morocco and the Sahrawi liberation movement, the Polisario Front, which had fought a 16-year war over the disputed territory. It is also tasked for preparing a referendum to determine the sparsely populated region's status - either independence or integration with Morocco.
Western Sahara was annexed by Morocco after Spain ended its colonial rule in 1975. The Polisario Front wants full independence for the Sahrawi people - an idea Rabat rejects.
In April 2007, Morocco submitted a proposal to the UNSC under which it intends to delegate administrative, legislative, and judicial powers to local residents while retaining the Moroccan flag and currency. Rabat would also be in charge of the phosphate-rich region's foreign policy, security, and defense.
So far, three permanent UNSC members - the UK, US and France - have endorsed the plan, calling it the most credible solution to the nearly 50-year conflict. Belgium, Spain, Germany and Portugal have also aligned with Rabat's proposal, while Israel recognized Moroccan sovereignty in 2023.
A US-authored draft decision is to be considered at the UNSC's Friday meeting. The text reportedly softens the wording of Morocco's autonomy proposal while supporting it as a basis for negotiations between the parties.
Algeria, which regards Morocco's presence in Western Sahara as an occupation, is serving a two-year term on the Council and continues to press for a vote that includes self-determination.
A resolution requires at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the five permanent members to pass. Russia and China have urged a "balanced" solution acceptable to all parties and have avoided endorsing Morocco's autonomy plan. Last year, Moscow abstained on the MINURSO renewal, arguing the US-penned text was "unbalanced" and did not reflect realities on the ground.
RT / RT
(RT.com)
Get a daily dose of Sierra Leone Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Sierra Leone Times.
More InformationBERLIN/FRANKFURT: Mercedes-Benz posted stronger-than-expected profit margins in its core car division on October 29, lifted by increasing...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Global corporations are cutting tens of thousands of jobs as weak consumer sentiment, new leadership shakeups,...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks stopped for breath on Wednesday after the Federal reserve lowered interest rates as expected, but...
VANCOUVER, Canada: Lululemon is taking its athleticwear to the gridiron. The company announced a new partnership with the National...
LONDON, U.K.: Primark is betting that changing U.S. trade rules will tilt the balance in its favor, accelerating store openings and...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Most tourism businesses in Ireland said their income either dropped or stayed the same this summer, according to a...
Inside the expansive halls hosting the 2025 Africa International Agricultural Expo, which runs from Tuesday to Friday in Nairobi, the...
The Council will vote to renew a mission in Western Sahara and consider a US-drafted measure to resolve the decades-long Morocco-Polisario...
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 31 (ANI): The Indian Women's Cricket Team's thrilling victory over Australia in the semi-final...
ERFOUD, Morocco, 31st October, 2025 (WAM) -- The United Arab Emirates has won the Best International Pavilion award at the 14th International...
by Joseph Matthews Twelve years on, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has helped build a more connected global infrastructure...
New Delhi [India], October 31 (ANI): Star India batter Virat Kohli lauded the Indian women's cricket team for their sensational semifinal...
