Western Sahara: UN gives token support to Moroccan plan

The UN’s Security Council voted on 31st October for a resolution stating that the Moroccan plan, which gives the Western Sahara autonomy under Morocco’s sovereignty, was “a most feasible solution”, report RFI and agencies.

Despite Algeria and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front’s strong opposition, the resolution was adopted with 11 countries voting in favour, while Russia, China and Pakistan abstained.

The vote has been hailed as a significant step to resolve a 50-year old conflict, but elements of the plan remain to be clarified and, importantly, the vote itself is not an adoption of the plan in any way. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura noted that Morocco now needs to” give more details and develop its proposition”, particularly with regards to how it will protect the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.

RFI via AFP