UN Security Council Backs Morocco’s Claim to Western Sahara in Historic Vote
The United Nations Security Council approved a resolution today backing Morocco’s claim to the disputed Western Sahara territory, marking a significant shift in international positioning on the decades-long conflict.
The vote, held on October 31, 2025, saw 11 countries voting in favor, with three abstentions from Russia, China, and Pakistan, and Algeria – a key backer of the Polisario Front – not participating. The resolution explicitly references Morocco’s plan for autonomy as a basis for negotiation, a move that strengthens Morocco’s position in the territorial dispute. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Mike Waltz, stated after the vote, “The United States welcomes today’s historic vote, which seizes upon this unique moment and builds on the momentum for a long, long overdue peace in Western Sahara.”
Moroccan King Mohammed VI celebrated the outcome in a televised address, pledging further details on his proposal and calling for dialogue with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The Western Sahara region, roughly the size of Colorado, has been contested since 1975 when Spain relinquished control, and the resolution does not include provisions for a referendum on self-determination – a key demand of the Polisario Front. This decision could have lasting implications for regional stability and the future of the Sahrawi people, who have long sought independence. For more background on the history of the conflict, see the Council on Foreign Relations’ overview.
While the resolution renews the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara for another year, it differs from previous extensions by explicitly acknowledging Morocco’s proposed autonomy plan. Sidi Mohamed Omar, the Polisario ambassador to the U.N., maintained that the resolution does not imply recognition of Moroccan sovereignty, calling it an “illegal military occupation.” The U.S., which sponsored the resolution, has been increasingly focused on streamlining U.N. peacekeeping operations and aligning them with its foreign policy objectives.
The U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will review the peacekeeping mission’s mandate within six months, depending on progress toward a resolution.
