US draft resolution backs Moroccan plan for Western Sahara
A preliminary US draft resolution proposes limiting negotiations to Morocco's autonomy initiative and changing MINURSO's mandate.
A preliminary United States draft resolution on Western Sahara, dated October 20, 2026, proposes limiting negotiations to Morocco's autonomy plan, calling it the "only viable solution" under "Moroccan sovereignty." This approach raises concerns about the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination. The draft, obtained by ECSaharaui, praises former US President Donald Trump for facilitating talks and urges continued dialogue based on Morocco's updated autonomy proposal.
The draft suggests renaming the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to the "UN Mission for Western Sahara" (MINUSO). It also proposes ending MINURSO's peacekeeping mandate on April 30, 2027, and transforming it into a six-month special political mission starting May 1. The plan includes reducing uniformed personnel by at least 50% before January 31, 2027, and gradually withdrawing staff and closing facilities.
Sidi Mohamed Omar, the Polisario Front's representative to the UN, sent a letter on October 19, 2026, to the Security Council president. He stressed that the decolonization process remains unresolved and any solution must guarantee the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination, aligning with UN Charter principles and Resolution 2797 from 2025. The US draft is still subject to modification during Security Council consultations.
Why it mattersThe draft resolution affects the Sahrawi people by potentially undermining their right to self-determination and altering the UN mission in their territory.