The United Nations has renewed its call for a negotiated settlement on Western Sahara, urging all parties to engage in dialogue centered on Morocco’s proposed autonomy plan, which the global body described as a credible basis for advancing peace efforts in the disputed territory.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the need for “realistic and pragmatic” discussions to end decades of deadlock between Morocco and the Polisario Front. Speaking through his spokesperson, Guterres said the UN supports “a mutually acceptable political solution” that ensures stability and regional cooperation, as reported by Reuters.
The autonomy plan, first introduced by Morocco in 2007, proposes granting Western Sahara self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty. Several countries, including the United States, France, and Spain, have publicly backed the plan in recent years. The UN reiterated that the initiative aligns with its call for compromise and respect for international law, according to Al Jazeera.
Diplomatic sources told Bloomberg that UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura is expected to visit Rabat and Algiers in the coming weeks to resume consultations with stakeholders, amid growing international pressure to resolve one of Africa’s longest-running territorial disputes.
