Morocco marks UN Western Sahara vote with a new public holiday

Following the UN Security Council’s vote supporting the thrust of the Western Sahara autonomy plan, the King of Morocco decided to mark the decision with a new national holiday, according to the Moroccan government-friendly North Africa Post and agencies on November 4th.

The announcement was made by the Royal Office, and the new public holiday was proclaimed on October 31st of each year for the Moroccan people to celebrate a day of unity in the country’s history. It was chosen to mark when the UN passed the resolution, a decision that was recognised by the King in a speech that occurred the same day.

The public holiday was named “Aid Al Wahda” (Unity Day in English), which seems to refer to the country’s now united territories, as the Moroccan government has been campaigning for years to gain international recognition for its self-proclaimed sovereignty over the Western Sahara.

During the monarch’s public address on October 31st, King Mohammed VI also included a direct message to the Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune to reopen dialogue between the countries, whose relations have deeply suffered for 30 years due to the Western Sahara.

Algeria and Morocco have opposing views on the future of the disputed Western Sahara. Their conflicting plans for the territory have created a lot of tensions, and it has led both Algiers and Rabat to significantly increase their defence budgets for 2026.

Algerian leadership has constantly criticised countries for endorsing Morocco’s controversial autonomy plan. France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory was deemed highly offensive by the Algerian government, which led to an ongoing diplomatic rift between the countries.

For decades, Algeria has given unwavering support to the Sahrawi people and to the Polisario Front. The militia is considered the Western Sahara’s armed forces and liberation movement, and it has been in numerous conflicts with the Moroccan army, who considers it a terrorist group.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, approximately 174,000 Sahrawi refugees are currently living in the Tindouf camps in Algeria. Nevertheless, they have experienced intensified repression and human rights violations by the Algerian authorities.

The Tindouf refugees were referred to as Moroccans by King Mohammed VI, who called for them to reunite with their families who are currently living across the border and promised they will enjoy the same rights as his citizens.

However, Morocco has spied on Western Sahara activists, the UN has voiced concerns over the worsening human rights situation in the disputed territory, and Moroccan authorities reportedly systematically displace Sahrawi people in the Western Sahara.

The controversial Moroccan autonomy plan has garnered the support of global superpowers such as the US, France, the UK and Spain. Yet, the current situation of human rights in the Western Sahara is alarming, and the King’s promises to treat Sahrawi people equally to Moroccans seem unrealistic.

While the refugees in the Tindouf camps are facing repression, human rights violations and forced child labour in Algeria, it’s also unsure that they won’t face persecution for demanding more autonomy and/or political control in Morocco.

The Sahrawi people are prone to repression from Algeria, Morocco and Mauritania, and their living situation in the region is highly unstable. Any plans for the Western Sahara and its people need to take into account conditions free of human rights violations and political repression.

The North Africa Post, Migration Policy Institute, Maghrebi.org