New york: The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution that proposes granting Western Sahara “genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty” as a potential solution to the long-standing conflict over the region. The resolution urges the involved parties to engage in negotiations centered on this premise.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the resolution saw support from 11 out of the 15 Security Council members, with Russia, China, and Pakistan abstaining from the vote. Notably, Algeria chose not to participate. The adopted resolution emphasizes the need for negotiations grounded in the autonomy plan that Morocco initially introduced to the United Nations in 2007. Additionally, the Security Council has extended the peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara for another year.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco expressed his approval of the resolution in a televised address, emphasizing the importance of dialogue with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. He stated Morocco’s intention to “update and elaborate on the autonomy initiative” to present it as the “sole basis for negotiations,” describing it as a realistic and viable solution.

Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony located on the Atlantic coast, is classified by the United Nations as a “non-self-governing territory.” Currently, Morocco holds control over 80% of the region, while the Polisario Front, with support from Algeria, continues to push for independence. This conflict is recognized as one of the oldest African disputes rooted in colonial history.