The diplomatic gavel has fallen in New York, and its echo is ringing across the Maghreb. On October 31, the United Nations Security Council didn’t just pass another resolution; it effectively ended a half-century of ambiguity. By explicitly endorsing Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative as the only serious basis for a solution, the international community has turned the page on the separatist delusions of the past.
On October 31, the United Nations Security Council didn’t just pass another resolution; it effectively ended a half-century of ambiguity.
But as Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita rightly pointed out in a candid interview with EFE this week, this diplomatic victory is not the finish line. It is the starting gun.
For decades, the dispute over the Moroccan Sahara has been stuck in the mud of Cold War ideology. Now, with the UN backing a realistic political solution and the United States set to host the upcoming negotiations, the narrative has shifted. The question is no longer “Who does the Sahara belong to?”—history and reality have answered that. The question is now: “How do we build a model of democratic governance that serves the people?”
The American Anchor
It is no coincidence that the UN resolution points to the United States as the host for these final negotiations. The Washington-Rabat alliance, dating back to 1777, is the bedrock of stability in North Africa. For the United States, supporting Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara isn’t just about friendship; it’s about cold, hard strategy.
America needs a stable, democratic partner to counter terrorism in the Sahel and check the influence of destabilizing forces in Africa. A fragmented state in the Sahara would be a playground for extremists. A sovereign Morocco, securing its southern provinces under a democratic autonomy plan, is a fortress of stability.
Democracy, Not Just Territory
The genius of Morocco’s position—and the reason it has garnered support from Madrid to Paris to Washington—is that it is not asking for blind annexation. It is offering Advanced Regionalization.
Foreign Minister Bourita noted that the 2007 Autonomy Plan must be updated. Why? Because Morocco is not the same country it was 18 years ago. The 2011 Constitution and the 2015 Regionalization Charter have transformed the Kingdom. The “Autonomy Plan 2.0” will not be a concession; it will be the crown jewel of Moroccan democracy.
A fragmented state in the Sahara would be a playground for extremists.
This is where the “work just started” sentiment is most vital. Implementing genuine local governance means empowering the local population to manage their resources, their schools, and their future, all under the Moroccan flag. This is the ultimate form of self-determination. As Bourita eloquently argued, self-determination is not synonymous with a divisive referendum—a mechanism the UN has long since realized is obsolete. Self-determination is the ability to forge a future through a negotiated, democratic agreement.
Sovereignty Means No Babysitters
One of the most striking takeaways from Bourita’s recent remarks is Morocco’s absolute rejection of “international guardianship.”
Critics often demand UN monitoring mechanisms or international oversight for the Sahara. Morocco’s response is a confident “No.” And they are right. You do not ask a sovereign nation with centuries of history to submit to a chaperone.
“When autonomy is signed, it will be implemented,” Bourita stated. The international community has placed its trust in Morocco. To demand a parallel oversight mechanism is to undermine that trust. Morocco is ready to assume full responsibility—from the ground to the sky.
This extends to the management of airspace. The current arrangement, where Spain manages the airspace over the Sahara, is an anachronism. As Bourita noted, if you fly to Dakhla, you are guided by Moroccan controllers on the ground. It is only logical, practical, and respectful of the “new reality” that the management of the skies aligns with the management of the land.
The Window of Opportunity
The separatists and their foreign backers are running out of time. The resolution identifies the parties clearly: Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario. There is no hiding behind proxies anymore.
A resolved Sahara issue unlocks the massive economic potential of the Atlantic African coast.
For the United States, this is a moment to press the advantage. A resolved Sahara issue unlocks the massive economic potential of the Atlantic African coast. It turns the region from a security liability into a trade hub connecting Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
Morocco has done the heavy lifting. It has secured the land, developed the infrastructure, and won the diplomatic argument. Now comes the challenge of governance. The updated Autonomy Plan will likely be a blueprint not just for the Sahara, but for regional governance across Africa.
The world has accepted the reality of the map. Now, under the guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI and with the support of its American allies, Morocco is ready to build the reality of the future. The conflict is over. The era of construction has begun.
Published originally on December 7, 2025.
