He UN Security Council has given the green light to a resolution on Western Sahara that establishes the autonomy proposal under Moroccan sovereignty as a basis for negotiations. The text, approved by a majority this Friday in New York, also considers that the Rabat proposal “could constitute the solution more viable“The Polisario Front, which defends the self-determination of the Sahara, already warned, before the vote, that it would not negotiate a proposal that did not include a referendum.
The Moroccan plan has received the support and encouragement from the United Stateswho has led the drafting of the resolution and the negotiations. The vote has ended with the result of 11 favorable votes, three abstentions (China, Russia y Pakistan) and no contrary vote. Algeria has decided not to participate in the vote, its representative has taken the floor to criticize the resolution, they consider that the text “goes against the principles of the UN”, he has spoken of “missed opportunity” and that “this resolution does not create the momentum and the necessary conditions for your success.”
Important negotiations
It has been a month of important negotiations within the Security Council to draft a text in which every detail in it counts. Among the drafts that have been leaked there have been some changes: at first, the United States opted to shorten half a year the mandate of MINURSO (the UN Mission for a Referendum in Western Sahara), something that Morocco also expected; although the final text contemplates that it be renewed for one more year. The central role that the resolution gives to the Moroccan proposal represents a change of narrative important compared to resolutions from previous years.
In recent years, the Moroccan proposal has added important supports. One of the first and one that was a turning point came from the same Donald Trumpbefore leaving the White House in his first term, in 2020. The US president recognized Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, while Rabat normalized relations with Israel. Spain also showed its support for the sovereignty plan “as the most serious, credible and realistic basis” in 2022. A list to which we can add numerous countries, including Emirates, Kenya, Germany, United Kingdom o France.
Rabat considers that historically this territory is part of its national territory and this cause largely determines the foreign diplomacy. Currently, Morocco controls, administers and economically exploits about 80% of Western Saharathe remaining part, is under the control of the Polisario. Between the two areas there is a sand wall under the control of the Moroccan Army. The Sahrawi independentists, based in the Tindouf camps, in the Algerian desert, defend that they have the right to hold a self-determination referendum and they consider that Morocco “illegally occupies” the Sahara.
This resolution coincides with the 50 years of Spain’s withdrawal from the Sahara and the Spanish cession of the administration of the territory to Morocco y Mauritania. Also with the Green March and the start of the war between Polisario and Morocco
peace agreement
The new US Administration has deployed its diplomacy with special emphasis in North Africa and in achieving a peace agreement between Morocco y Algeriatwo neighboring countries that maintain a historical disputewith the theme of Western Sahara as one of the reasons. In a television interview early last week, the White House special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoffsaid they were working on a possible agreement, which could reach in two monthshe defended.
Currently, the two Maghreb countries have broken diplomatic relations. Algiers is the main ally of the Polisario Front and defends self-determination, something that clashes with Rabat, which regularly accuses the Polisario of being a “puppet” from the Algerian authorities. Tension between countries has also increased as Morocco has signed military agreements with Israel.
After the result of the vote, the horns have begun to ring in the streets of the Rabat center and in other cities of the country. Late at night, hundreds of people They gathered in front of Parliament, on an avenue dyed by the red of the Moroccan flagsalso songs and some photos of Mohamed VI. In an atmosphere of victory, patriotism and euphoria; a similar celebration to those of the sports successes of the national soccer team.
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