The United Nations Security Council’s latest resolution on Western Sahara has triggered a wave of diplomatic, political, and popular reaction across North Africa and beyond. On November 1, 2025, the Council adopted Resolution 2797, a US-backed measure that declares Morocco’s 2007 autonomy proposal for Western Sahara as the “most feasible solution” to a territorial dispute that has smoldered for half a century. The vote reignited hope for peace in some quarters and stoked frustration and resistance in others, underscoring the deep divisions that have defined the conflict since Spain’s withdrawal from the region in 1975.
In a vote that left little doubt about shifting international sentiment, 11 of the Council’s 15 members supported the resolution. Russia, China, and Pakistan abstained, while Algeria—long the main backer of the pro-independence Polisario Front—chose not to participate. The measure also extended the mandate of MINURSO, the UN’s peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, for another year, maintaining an international presence in the region as negotiations are urged to resume.
According to DW, the US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, welcomed the decision, calling it a “historic vote, which seizes this unique moment and builds on the momentum for a long-awaited peace in Western Sahara.” He urged all parties to “take advantage of the coming weeks to come to the negotiating table and engage in serious discussions, using Morocco’s credible and realistic autonomy proposal as the sole basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute.” Waltz’s optimism was clear: “We believe regional peace is possible this year, and we will make every effort to facilitate progress.”
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI struck a similarly hopeful tone in a televised address, praising the Council’s resolution as “a historic decision.” He pledged to update and resubmit Morocco’s autonomy plan to the UN as “the only basis for negotiation and the only viable solution to the dispute.” The king also called for renewed dialogue with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and reaffirmed his commitment to reviving the Arab Maghreb Union—a regional organization that has languished for years amid tensions over Western Sahara.
On the streets of Rabat and other Moroccan cities, thousands celebrated the UN vote. National flags waved and patriotic slogans rang out, reflecting a sense of validation for Morocco’s long-held claim to the territory. The jubilation was echoed by some of the country’s most prominent football clubs. Wydad Athletic Club’s president, Hicham Aït Menna, declared the resolution “a victory for Morocco’s wise diplomacy under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI” and reaffirmed the club’s commitment to “defending the Moroccan flag in sports arenas and dedicates every future victory to a unified homeland from Tangier to Lagouira.” Raja Club Athletic congratulated the king for what it called a “historic diplomatic achievement that affirms the leadership of the Kingdom of Morocco and its established international standing.”
The United Arab Emirates, a key regional ally of Morocco, quickly welcomed the resolution. In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs called Resolution 2797 “an important step toward achieving a final and lasting political solution to this issue, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter and relevant Security Council’s resolutions.” The UAE praised the US diplomatic efforts and reaffirmed its “full support for [Morocco’s] legitimate rights in the Moroccan Sahara, as well as for all efforts that safeguard the security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Kingdom.”
But the mood was far less celebratory across the border in Algeria. Amar Bendjama, Algeria’s permanent representative to the UN, explained his country’s decision not to participate in the vote, arguing that the resolution “does not sufficiently reflect” the UN doctrine on decolonization. “A just and lasting solution can only be achieved by respecting the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to decide their own future. This is the only guarantee of genuine peace and lasting stability in the region,” Bendjama told the Council. The Polisario Front, for its part, was unequivocal in its rejection of the resolution. Sidi Mohamed Omar, the group’s representative at the UN, posted on social media: “The Polisario Front reaffirms the Sahrawi people’s unwavering commitment to their non-negotiable right to self-determination and independence, and to defend their rights and sovereignty by all legitimate means.” The group subsequently announced it would not participate in “any peace process or negotiations based on proposals intended to legitimize Morocco’s military occupation.”
The roots of the Western Sahara conflict run deep. After Spain withdrew from the region in 1975, Morocco quickly moved to claim the territory, annexing it in 1979. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, declared the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in 1976 and waged a 16-year armed struggle before a UN-brokered ceasefire took hold in 1991. Today, Morocco controls roughly three-quarters of Western Sahara, while the Polisario administers a smaller portion. About 600,000 people live in the territory, which is rich in minerals and strategically positioned along the Atlantic coast.
The autonomy plan at the heart of the new UN resolution was first put forward by Morocco in 2007. Under the proposal, Western Sahara would gain its own local, legislative, executive, and judicial authorities elected by residents, while Rabat would retain control over defense, foreign affairs, and religion. The resolution calls on all parties to resume negotiations based on this framework, but the Polisario and its supporters remain adamant that only a referendum on independence can resolve the conflict.
The international context has shifted since the Trump administration recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in 2020 as part of the Abraham Accords, which also saw Morocco normalize relations with Israel. In July 2025, former President Trump reaffirmed his support, calling Morocco’s autonomy plan “the only viable solution.” Israel followed suit in 2023, officially recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the region. The symbolic importance of these moves was not lost on Moroccans, especially after Israel’s Foreign Ministry corrected official maps to include Western Sahara as part of Morocco.
Even digital borders have shifted. Following the UN vote, Google Maps users inside Morocco noticed that the dotted line marking Western Sahara’s border with Morocco had vanished. According to AFP, the line remained visible for users outside Morocco, including in Algeria, the United States, and France. Many Moroccans celebrated the change on social media, with one user proclaiming, “The imaginary line is no more.”
Despite the diplomatic momentum, the path forward remains far from certain. The UN Security Council has repeatedly urged Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania to resume talks and seek a broad agreement. Yet, with the Polisario Front vowing to boycott any negotiations based on the autonomy plan and Algeria insisting on the principle of self-determination, the old divisions persist.
As the dust settles from the Security Council’s vote, the fate of Western Sahara hangs in the balance. For now, the region remains a symbol of both hope and frustration—a place where borders shift not just on maps, but in the hearts and minds of those who call it home.
