Accra:The Fourth Committee of the United Nations adopted a resolution endorsing the historic Security Council Resolution 2797, which supports Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative as a basis for resolving the issue of the Moroccan Sahara. This draft resolution was presented by the Senegalese Chair of the Committee and is customarily adopted without a vote due to a consensus-based practice established in 2006.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, this year, however, the resolution was put to a vote after a last-minute request by the United States delegation. The U.S. called for votes on all 23 draft resolutions submitted to the Fourth Committee, breaking from the tradition of adopting some by consensus. This action aligns with the State Department’s policy to require voting on all resolutions across the UN’s six Main Committees, including those on security, disarmament, sustainable development, humanitarian affairs, human rights, legal matters, and the UN budget.

Morocco, along with 151 other UN member states, voted in favor of the resolution. The resolution reaffirms the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative as the framework for a solution within Moroccan sovereignty and highlights the responsibility of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the “polisario” to engage in the political process sincerely. It also emphasizes the significance of UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, 2025, following the annual review of the Moroccan Sahara issue by the Fourth Committee.

The resolution supports the political process led by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General, aiming for a realistic and lasting solution as per relevant Security Council resolutions. It also acknowledges the commitment of the involved parties to engage in dialogue without preconditions and recognizes the progress made since 2006, including the adoption of Resolution 2797 and negotiations in Washington and Madrid where Morocco proposed an advanced Autonomy status.

Furthermore, the resolution does not prejudge the status of the Sahara, emphasizing the need for resolution through dialogue and negotiation within the framework of international peace and security, as outlined under Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter.