The United Nations Security Council has adopted a resolution supporting Morocco’s proposal for autonomy in Western Sahara, marking a significant step in resolving the decades-long territorial dispute. The resolution, drafted by the United States, emphasizes that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could be the most viable solution to the conflict between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the region. Western Sahara, a vast desert territory comparable in size to Britain, has been a flashpoint of contention since Spain’s withdrawal in 1975. The UN Security Council’s resolution calls for renewed negotiations based on Morocco’s 2007 autonomy plan, which envisions local governance while retaining Moroccan control over defense, foreign affairs, and religious matters. The resolution also extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, MINURSO, for another year. While 11 council members voted in favor, Russia, China, and Pakistan abstained, and Algeria did not participate in the vote. Algeria’s UN Ambassador Amar Bendjama criticized the resolution, stating that it disregarded the Polisario Front’s proposals and emphasized that the future of Western Sahara should be determined by its people. Morocco’s King Mohammed VI hailed the resolution as a ‘new chapter’ in asserting the ‘Moroccanness of the Sahara’ and called for dialogue with Algeria. Meanwhile, the Polisario Front rejected the resolution, vowing not to engage in any process that legitimizes Moroccan control. The resolution also requested UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to conduct a strategic review of MINURSO’s mandate within six months. The move aligns with growing international support for Morocco’s position, including backing from the US, France, Britain, and Spain, signaling a shift in global diplomatic perspectives on the issue.