Morocco's UN Ambassador advocates autonomy plan for Sahara

Omar Hilale, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, stated that UN Security Council Resolution 2797 marks a significant shift in the Moroccan Sahara dispute. He argued the resolution moves the process from merely managing the conflict toward seeking a final political settlement, positioning Morocco’s autonomy initiative as the foundation for future negotiations.

Speaking before the Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly, Hilale emphasized that the autonomy proposal aims to manage local affairs within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty, distributing powers across executive, legislative, and judicial branches. He called on all involved parties—Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front—to engage in negotiations in good faith and without preconditions.

Hilale also addressed the humanitarian situation in the Tindouf camps, stressing the need for sustainable solutions such as voluntary return or resettlement. He dismissed the continued promotion of a referendum, noting that recent Security Council decisions have trended toward realistic political solutions rather than previous proposals that failed to resolve the dispute.