UN Resolution 2797: A Turning Point for the Moroccan Sahara

What the Resolution Says

Resolution 2797 was adopted on 31 October 2025 with 11 votes in favour, none against, and three abstentions from China, Pakistan and Russia. Algeria chose not to participate in the vote. The text renews the mandate of MINURSO, the UN mission in the territory, until 31 October 2026.

Crucially, the resolution expresses the Council's full support for negotiations taking Morocco's Autonomy Proposal as their basis, with the goal of a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution consistent with the UN Charter.

Why It Matters

For Rabat, the resolution represents the clearest endorsement to date of the autonomy framework Morocco first submitted to the UN in 2007. By centring negotiations on autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, the Council moved the diplomatic conversation toward a realistic political outcome.

The United States, which drafted the text, described it as historic, while France reaffirmed its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty. The resolution reflected a broad alignment among permanent members.

The Diplomatic Backdrop

The 2025 resolution followed a year of major shifts, including the United Kingdom's endorsement of the autonomy plan in June 2025 and continued backing from the United States and France. This momentum shaped the Council's language.

Morocco presents the autonomy plan as a self-governing arrangement for the Sahara region while sovereignty remains with the Kingdom, a model it argues balances local self-administration with national unity.

What Comes Next

The resolution calls on the parties to engage in negotiations under the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy. Morocco has signalled readiness to discuss the practical arrangements of autonomy in good faith.

Implementation and the pace of talks will depend on the willingness of all parties. For Rabat, Resolution 2797 sets a framework it considers consistent with its long-standing position on the territory.

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