Accra, Nov. 4, GNA– Morocco has welcomed the decision by the United Nations Security Council not to renew the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), describing the development as a major step toward what it views as the definitive closure of the Moroccan Sahara issue within the United Nations framework.
According to Moroccan authorities, the Security Council’s decision, taken at its meeting on October 30, 2026, marks the end of MINURSO’s presence in the Kingdom’s southern provinces following more than three decades of operation.
The development coincides with the observance of Unity Day, proclaimed by King Mohammed VI, which Moroccan officials say symbolises a shift in the management of the Sahara issue from a policy of containment to one aimed at fundamentally transforming the parameters governing the dispute.
Moroccan authorities stated that the non-renewal of the mission’s mandate means that MINURSO’s personnel, vehicles, equipment and other operational symbols are expected to be withdrawn from the territory in the coming days.
They argued that the closure of the mission ends a 35-year chapter that originated in a different geopolitical context and had contributed to the internationalisation of what Morocco considers a regional dispute linked to the recovery of its Saharan provinces.
Morocco further maintains that the decision should bring to an end the Security Council’s regular consideration of the issue, including periodic meetings, reports by the United Nations Secretary-General and briefings by his Personal Envoy.
The Kingdom also indicated that the UN-led political process surrounding the dispute has been suspended, attributing the situation to what it described as delays and deadlocks created by other parties involved in the process. It added that related measures are expected to be undertaken in other United Nations bodies.
Despite welcoming the latest development, Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the ceasefire and safeguarding its territorial integrity, national security and the well-being of its citizens.
The country said it would continue diplomatic efforts launched under the leadership of King Mohammed VI at bilateral and regional levels. Moroccan authorities noted that support for the autonomy initiative under Moroccan sovereignty has expanded internationally, with backing from a majority of UN member states, including permanent members of the Security Council and other influential countries.
Officials described the growing international support as evidence that the autonomy proposal remains, in Morocco’s view, the only viable framework for resolving the regional dispute over the Sahara.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade