UN Calls for Western Sahara Talks Based on Morocco’s Autonomy Plan

UN Calls for Western Sahara Talks Based on Morocco’s Autonomy Plan
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The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has called for renewed talks regarding the future of the disputed Western Sahara territory, urging negotiations to be based on Morocco’s autonomy plan, Reuters reported.

In a vote held on October 31, 2025, the UNSC passed a resolution that extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for another year. The resolution explicitly called on all parties—Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania—to resume negotiations “on the basis of the Moroccan autonomy initiative.”

The resolution maintained the UN’s existing position of supporting a solution based on compromise, but the specific mention of Morocco’s autonomy plan as the basis for talks was seen as a diplomatic victory for Rabat. Morocco proposes self-rule under its sovereignty, while the Polisario Front, which claims independence for the territory, demands a referendum on self-determination.

The Polisario Front has previously rejected the Moroccan proposal. The UNSC resolution did not secure the support of all members, with Russia abstaining from the vote.