A New Era of Clarity
In a world often clouded by uncertainty, clarity can be revolutionary. The latest United Nations Security Council resolution on the Moroccan Sahara marks such a moment. A turning point that transforms long-standing ambiguity into actionable consensus. It is not merely another text in a decades-old process; it is a decisive shift that echoes a truth Morocco has upheld for years: peace and stability in North Africa will only be achieved through autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty.
This time around, the United Nations has fully embraced a language that reflects realism, pragmatism, and mutual respect. The resolution does not just “take note” of Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative, it defines it as the basis and framework for a political solution. This evolution, long advocated by Morocco, sets the tone and direction for the process thus transforming the autonomy plan from a “credible proposal” into the cornerstone of negotiations.
Equally significant, no member of the Security Council voted against this resolution, not a single one. This sends a clear message: the international community is aligning behind a practical, achievable path forward. More than 120 countries, representing two-thirds of the global community, now endorse the Moroccan approach as the only credible and sustainable path toward peace.
American Leadership
A vision long upheld by successive U.S. administrations, but which reached an unprecedented level of clarity and momentum under the decisive and results-driven diplomacy of President Donald Trump. This years resolution carries the imprint of American leadership.
In December 2020, President Trump’s historic recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara reshaped the geopolitical landscape. It did not merely acknowledge reality; it reenergized the UN process by introducing a new logic of peace through clarity.
As a matter of fact, Washington’s foreign policy proved that decisive action fosters stability. By affirming Morocco’s sovereignty, the US alongside major Permanent Members of the Security Council especially France and UK, encouraged others to move beyond hesitation and toward constructive engagement. The Security Council breakthrough stands as a direct continuation of that legacy. It shows that, when anchored in conviction and guided by realism, diplomacy can indeed create lasting peace.
A Vision for the Sahara
For Morocco, this clarity means purpose. It Confirms and Comforts His Majesty’s King Mohammed VI Vision for the region and longstanding commitment to build bridges instead of promoting division and hatred. Last month in New York, we witnessed the direct result of more than 26 years of Morocco’s choices, Morocco’s transformation and Morocco’s diplomacy as carried forward by the Sovereign.
As His Majesty declared, “there is a before and an after October 31.” The resolution ushers in a new phase, one focused on negotiation, not stalemate. It brings hope to thousands of individuals held for decades in the Tindouf camps, deprived of their most basic rights. It is worth noting that the resolution calls for their registration as a long-overdue step toward transparency and accountability. At its core, Morocco’s approach to the Sahara issue is not merely territorial, it is profoundly human. It is about restoring dignity, reconnecting families, and unlocking the region’s potential for integration and growth.
A Historic Alliance
This resolutions as a milestone also reminds us of the depth and durability of the U.S.–Morocco alliance, the oldest continuous friendship treaty in America’s history.
From 1777, when Morocco became the first nation to recognize the independence of the United States, to today’s shared efforts for stability and counterterrorism in Africa and the Atlantic, the partnership has endured because it is built on values, not convenience.
In recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty and supporting its autonomy plan, the United States reaffirmed not just a diplomatic stance, but a 250-year-old friendship based on trust, vision, and shared destiny. It is this alliance that continues to guide regional peace efforts, from the Sahara to the Sahel and beyond.
It’s safe to say that Morocco’s peaceful, solution-oriented approach combined with America’s decisive leadership has redefined what diplomacy can accomplish when guided by clarity and conviction.
The recent resolution is more than a diplomatic achievement; it is a call to responsibility. As King Mohammed VI reiterated in his latest address, Morocco extends a hand of sincere and brotherly dialogue to Algeria, with the hope of turning the page on division and building a future rooted in trust, fraternity, and good neighborliness.
It is now incumbent upon all parties to align actions with the parameters set by the Security Council, to move beyond sterile postures and engage in good faith. Only through such alignment can the region achieve the just, lasting, and mutually acceptable solution envisioned by the United Nations, one that ensures peace, stability, and cooperation across the Maghreb and the Sahel.
As the UN process moves forward, the Sahara question is no longer an open wound it is a path toward peace, opportunity, and regional unity. And in this new chapter, the U.S.–Morocco partnership, stands once again as a model of how diplomacy, can change the course of history.
Youssef Amrani
Ambassador of Morocco to the USA
