United Nations Security Council Resolution on the Question of the Moroccan Sahara
The Kingdom of Morocco welcomes today’s adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 2703 on the Question of the Moroccan Sahara. This resolution renews the mandate of MINURSO for one year, until the end of October 2024.
The adoption of this resolution comes in a context marked by the continuation of the positive dynamic that the issue is experiencing, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, May God Assist Him.
Indeed, the growing international support of nearly a hundred countries for the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative, the opening of more than thirty Consulates General in Laâyoune and Dakhla, the non-recognition of the puppet entity by more than 84% of UN member states, as well as the economic and social development of the region within the framework of the New Development Model for the Southern Provinces, reinforce the approach advocated by the Kingdom in dealing with this issue.
It is in this context that the Security Council, through today’s resolution, reinforces its approach to the question of the Moroccan Sahara, in terms of identifying the parties, establishing the framework of the process and confirming its purpose.
The resolution clearly identified the parties to the political process, who must assume their political, legal and moral responsibility in the search for a definitive solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. In particular, it mentions Algeria six times, as many times as Morocco, confirming that Algeria is indeed the main party to this artificial dispute.
Similarly, the new resolution enshrines the round tables as the sole framework for the political process, with Algeria in particular taking part as a stakeholder directly involved.
Finally, the Security Council confirmed that the definitive political solution can only be a “realistic, pragmatic, lasting political solution based on compromise”. These parameters are once again coupled with the Security Council’s support for the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative, described as “serious and credible”. It is important to note in this context that several countries around the world have clearly expressed their support for this Initiative as the essential basis for any solution to this regional dispute.
The new resolution also called the “polisario” to order regarding its violations and restrictions on MINURSO’s freedom of movement. It again called on Algeria to allow the registration of the population of the Tindouf camps.
On the strength of its achievements and the constancy of the Security Council’s approach, the Kingdom of Morocco, as reaffirmed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, May God Assist Him, remains fully committed to supporting the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his Personal Envoy aimed at relaunching the round table process, with a view to reaching a political solution, based on the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative and in strict respect of the Kingdom’s territorial integrity and national sovereignty.
Source: EuBriefs
