Non-Renewal of Minurso’s Mandate Reinforces International Support for Moroccan Autonomy Plan – Spanish Expert

Madrid – The UN Security Council’s decision not to renew Minurso’s mandate marks a new stage in the process of settling the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara and reinforces the international momentum of support for the autonomy plan under Moroccan sovereignty, Spanish expert Paulino Ros said on Saturday.

In a statement to MAP, Ros said that Minurso “has had no reason to exist for a long time,” considering that the end of its mandate comes after 35 years during which the UN process failed to achieve a definitive settlement of this regional dispute.

According to him, the Royal Office statement provided “a clear response” to developments at the Security Council, highlighting the broad support garnered by the US draft resolution backing the Moroccan autonomy initiative.

In this regard, Ros noted that the voting result, with eleven votes in favor of the text, reflects the international community’s firm determination to move towards settling the Sahara issue on the basis of the Moroccan autonomy plan.

He considered this outcome a significant diplomatic achievement for Morocco, despite the draft resolution not being adopted, stressing that the support expressed for the plan within the Security Council strengthens its position in discussions on resolving this long-standing dispute.

Ros also highlighted Morocco’s diplomatic breakthroughs regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue, noting that the Kingdom now plays a leading role in an irreversible political and diplomatic momentum.