On Friday, October 31, the United Nations Security Council took a decisive step in a conflict that has lingered for half a century. By adopting Resolution 2797 (2025), the Council endorsed Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the official roadmap for resolving the long-standing Sahara dispute.

 

The vote reflected a growing consensus within the Security Council and the international alignment behind Morocco’s proposal, one that has been described by successive U.S. administrations as “serious, credible, and realistic.” Backed by key global and regional powers, the resolution consolidates years of diplomatic momentum that increasingly recognize the autonomy plan as the only viable and pragmatic path toward a lasting settlement.

 

For Morocco, this moment is far more than a diplomatic milestone, it is a historic affirmation of national sovereignty. The Sahara issue has long been perceived as existential, woven into the very fabric of the country’s political and social identity. On the evening of the resolution’s adoption, His Majesty King Mohammed VI addressed the nation, framing the decision as a turning point in Morocco’s modern history. In his speech, he further extended a hand to Algeria, expressing a sincere hope for dialogue and reconciliation.

 

But even now, pressing questions remain. How can this resolution be translated from paper into practice, finally bringing closure to a conflict that has shaped generations? Will Rabat and Algiers be able to overcome decades of tension and align their interests for the benefit of local populations and both countries?

 

As Morocco and the region stand at this historic crossroads, the world watches closely aware that the path ahead will require diplomacy, vision, and the pursuit of lasting peace. October 31, 2025, stands as a defining moment in the Sahara’s story, forever remembered as the National Day of Unity.

PUBLICATIONS

(FR) Resolution 2797: The UN Backs Autonomy as the Way Forward

 

Mohammed Loulichki

 

Adopted on October 31, 2025, UN Security Council Resolution 2797 may well redefine the course of the Sahara dispute. For the first time, Morocco’s autonomy plan is recognized as the only framework for negotiation, a moment hailed by His Majesty the King as a decisive turning point in modern history. Supported by key powers such as the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Spain, the resolution opens the door to new possibilities: could this be the dawn of lasting stability and renewed Maghreb unity?... Read more

 

(FR) Morocco’s Sahara Initiative and UNSC Resolution 2797

 

Jamal Machrouh

 

In this op-ed, the author analyzes UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, 2025, which recognizes Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative as the exclusive basis for negotiations on the Sahara. The piece examines the political and legal stakes of this decisive milestone, highlights key points of vigilance for the Kingdom, and outlines guidance for negotiating a “genuine autonomy” under Moroccan sovereignty... Read more

 

The International Consensus Around the Autonomy Plan

 

Rida Lyammouri, Fadoua Ammari

 

This Policy Brief examined how recent diplomatic shifts most notably renewed U.S. backing for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan reshaped the UN’s approach to the Sahara issue. The Brief argues that a more proactive, realism-driven UN strategy is essential to break the deadlock and uphold the organization’s credibility as a key mediator in regional peacebuilding... Read more

 

Towards Autonomy for the Sahara: A Dynamic Underway

 

Mohammed Loulichki

 

This paper explores the gradual international recognition of Morocco’s 2007 Autonomy Initiative for the Sahara. It examines how renewed support from key actors has created an unprecedented opportunity to advance a lasting settlement. The paper highlights recent diplomatic efforts, including calls for UN action and U.S.-led engagement with Algeria, framing a unique moment that could mark a historic turning point in resolving the long-standing Sahara dispute... Read more

 

The U.S. Support to the Moroccan Sahara and its Regional Implications

 

Rida Lyammouri, Fadoua Ammari

 

This Policy Brief analyzes the strategic significance of the reaffirmation by the United States, on April 8, 2025, of its support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Moroccan Sahara and of Morocco’s autonomy plan for the territory. This position, which has been maintained under different U.S. administrations, confirms the appropriateness of the Moroccan approach based on compromise, regional stability, and economic integration. It reinforces the isolation of the Polisario Front, whose stubborn stance on independence is struggling to win international support... Read more

 

Lessons from the 50-Year Sahara Issue: Polisario and The Evolution of International Law

 

Matsumoto Shoji

 

This paper examines recent legal developments in the Sahara Issue, focusing on the Polisario’s push for a referendum and its ties to Algeria. Over the past fifty years, international law has clarified that self-determination cannot be exercised discriminatorily and that racial discrimination constitutes a jus cogens violation. States can also be held accountable for wrongful acts carried out by proxy forces, reshaping the legal landscape of the conflict... Read more

 

BOOK

This book examines the Sahara issue from an international legal perspective. It focuses on Morocco’s sovereignty, grounded in lex lata and the 1975 Madrid Accord, rather than non-binding opinions or resolutions. It aims to clarify the main legal issues and foster informed debate and policy discussions on this long-standing regional dispute.

PCNS TUESDAY TALKS

Up-Coming Episode: The Autonomy Initiative: Between International Recognition and On-the-Ground Implementation

 

Next Tuesday, we  will explore Morocco’s autonomy initiative for the Sahara following the UN Security Council’s Resolution 2797. The episode will examine the growing international recognition of the plan and its implications for regional stability. The discussion will highlight the challenges of translating diplomatic support into practical, on-the-ground implementation... Read more

Morocco and Algeria: What Future Awaits Bilateral Relations?

 

This episode sheds light on the relationship between Morocco and Algeria, exploring the roots of their disputes and the evolution of the Algerian regime. It also discusses how regional and international changes influence the trajectory of relations between the two countries, while raising questions about the prospects for cooperation and the possibility of reviving the Arab Maghreb Union project...Watch

Rabat’s Diplomacy and the Autonomy Initiative: An Overview of the International Community’s Positions

 

In this episode we focus on the growing global support for the Autonomy Plan, the role of African and Arab countries in pushing toward a final resolution amid divisions within the UN Security and discuss mechanisms to strengthen both official and informal diplomacy in order to translate this support into tangible outcomes within the international system...Watch

Has the United Nations Come Closer to a Final Resolution of the Sahara Issue?

 

This episode highlights the latest updates on the UN position, particularly the briefing by envoy Staffan de Mistura, the growing international support for the Autonomy Initiative and the key stakes of the coming phase, in light of the last UN Security Council session and the 50th anniversary of the Green March...Watch

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