By Dr. Najib Somoue
President of MEDEV
As Africa seeks to consolidate its position as
a major actor in global governance, resolving disputes inherited from the
colonial era has become a strategic imperative for peace, sustainable
development, and regional integration. The continent's future cannot be built
upon divisions rooted in a bygone era, but rather upon cooperation, shared
prosperity, and collective security. From terrorism and transnational crime to
climate change, food insecurity, and economic fragmentation, Africa faces
challenges that demand unity rather than division. Within this broader context, the regional
dispute over the Moroccan Sahara represents one of the most significant
unresolved issues inherited from the twentieth century. For nearly five
decades, this dispute has constrained regional cooperation, weakened the
prospects of Maghreb integration, and diverted political and economic resources
away from the pressing priorities of development. Today, however, the
international landscape has evolved considerably. The adoption of United
Nations Security Council Resolution 2797 on 31 October 2025 marks a
decisive turning point in the international community's approach to the issue. Resolution 2797 represents much more than the
routine renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum
in Western Sahara (MINURSO). It reflects the culmination of a gradual but
profound evolution within the United Nations toward a political approach
grounded in realism, pragmatism, compromise, and long-term stability. After
decades of mediation, the Security Council has acknowledged that durable peace
cannot emerge from unrealistic or outdated political formulas, but rather from
practical solutions capable of reconciling international legality with
geopolitical realities. The most significant innovation introduced by
Resolution 2797 lies in its recognition of the Moroccan Autonomy
Initiative as the exclusive basis for future political negotiations. By identifying Morocco's autonomy proposal as the most serious, credible, and
realistic framework for resolving the regional dispute, the Security Council
has fundamentally reshaped the diplomatic architecture surrounding the Sahara
issue. This development did not emerge overnight. Since Morocco presented its Autonomy Initiative in 2007, successive Security
Council resolutions have consistently welcomed the Kingdom's "serious and
credible efforts" to reach a negotiated settlement. Resolution 2797
constitutes the logical continuation of this diplomatic evolution by
establishing the Autonomy Plan as the central political reference for future
negotiations under the exclusive auspices of the United Nations. More importantly, this evolution reflects a
broader understanding of Africa's colonial legacy. Like many territorial
disputes across the continent, the Sahara issue cannot be understood without
acknowledging the historical disruptions created by colonial partition,
artificial borders, and incomplete decolonization processes. These historical
legacies have generated political disputes whose persistence continues to
undermine regional cooperation decades after independence. In this regard, Morocco's Autonomy Initiative
should not merely be viewed as a territorial proposal; it should also be
understood as a contemporary political response to the unresolved
consequences of colonialism.
Rather than perpetuating divisions
inherited from the colonial period, the initiative seeks to transform
historical grievances into a framework for reconciliation, democratic
governance, and sustainable development. This perspective is particularly relevant in
today's Africa. Across the continent, the most successful conflict-resolution
mechanisms have increasingly favored negotiated political settlements that
preserve territorial integrity while promoting decentralization, local
governance, and democratic participation. Morocco's Autonomy Initiative fits
precisely within this contemporary philosophy of conflict resolution. Far from representing a simple administrative
arrangement, the proposal establishes an ambitious institutional framework
granting the populations of the Southern Provinces broad powers to manage their
local affairs through democratically elected legislative, executive, and
judicial institutions, while fully respecting Morocco's sovereignty and
territorial integrity. Such a model reflects internationally recognized
principles of advanced regional governance and subsidiarity, providing a
balanced solution capable of reconciling unity with diversity. The evolution of the United Nations' position
therefore illustrates a broader shift away from ideological approaches
inherited from the Cold War. Instead, it embraces a political philosophy
centered on compromise, institutional innovation, and long-term regional
stability. In doing so, Resolution 2797 acknowledges that the future of the
Sahara issue lies not in perpetuating historical divisions but in building new
political arrangements capable of addressing contemporary realities. The significance of this diplomatic shift
extends far beyond Morocco itself. Stability in the Sahara has become an
essential component of stability throughout North Africa and the Sahel. The
rapid expansion of terrorist organizations, illicit trafficking networks,
irregular migration, and organized crime has transformed regional security into
a shared concern requiring coordinated responses rather than prolonged
political confrontation. Against this backdrop, the Security Council has
reaffirmed that the political process must continue under the exclusive
authority of the United Nations. Resolution 2797 explicitly calls upon Morocco,
Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front to engage constructively
in renewed political negotiations under the auspices of the UN
Secretary-General. This formulation is particularly significant because it reflects
the Security Council's recognition that a sustainable solution requires the
active participation of all stakeholders directly involved in the regional
dispute. Algeria's Role: From
Regional Rivalry to Shared Responsibility
No comprehensive analysis of the Sahara dispute
can overlook the role played by Algeria over the past five decades. The issue
has long ceased to be a simple territorial disagreement between Morocco and the
Polisario Front. It has evolved into a broader geopolitical question whose
implications extend far beyond the territory itself, affecting the balance of
power in North Africa and the prospects for Maghreb integration. The United Nations itself has progressively
acknowledged this reality.
By explicitly inviting Morocco, Algeria,
Mauritania, and the Polisario Front to participate in the political
process, Resolution 2797 confirms that the search for a lasting solution
requires the constructive engagement of all the parties concerned. This
represents an important evolution from earlier diplomatic formulations and
reflects the Security Council's understanding that regional stability cannot be
achieved without Algeria's active participation. For decades, however, the dispute has also been
shaped by a broader strategic rivalry between Rabat and Algiers. Algeria's
political, diplomatic, financial, and military support for the Polisario Front
has contributed significantly to prolonging a conflict that many observers
believe could have evolved differently through sustained political compromise. This support has transformed what might have remained a localized territorial
dispute into a long-standing regional confrontation with significant
geopolitical consequences. The persistence of this conflict has imposed
considerable costs on the peoples of the Maghreb. While other regions of the
world have strengthened regional integration through common markets,
cross-border infrastructure, and coordinated economic policies, North Africa
has remained one of the least integrated regions globally. Closed borders,
limited trade, and political mistrust have deprived millions of citizens of the
economic opportunities that regional cooperation could have generated. Numerous international economic studies have
demonstrated that deeper Maghreb integration could substantially increase
regional growth, facilitate foreign investment, strengthen energy cooperation,
and create millions of jobs, particularly for young people. Instead, decades of
political tensions have diverted resources toward strategic competition rather
than economic development. Beyond its economic implications, the
continuation of the dispute has also generated important security challenges. The growing instability affecting the Sahel has transformed North Africa into a
strategic security corridor where terrorism, arms trafficking, human
trafficking, drug smuggling, and organized criminal networks increasingly
overlap. In such an environment, prolonged political divisions weaken
collective responses to common threats. Resolution 2797 therefore carries significance
that extends beyond the Sahara itself. By encouraging a renewed political
process centered on Morocco's Autonomy Initiative, it invites all regional
actors—including Algeria—to move beyond confrontation toward constructive
engagement. It reflects the understanding that today's security challenges
cannot be addressed through geopolitical rivalry but require regional
cooperation based on mutual confidence and shared interests. Rather than viewing the issue exclusively through
the prism of historical competition, the current UN framework opens the
possibility of transforming the Sahara from a source of division into a
catalyst for regional cooperation. Such a transformation would serve not only
Morocco's interests but those of Algeria, Mauritania, the broader Maghreb, and
the African continent as a whole. MINURSO and the
Evolution of the United Nations Political Process
Resolution 2797 also redefines the role of the
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).
While
the Mission continues to play its essential role in maintaining the ceasefire
and contributing to regional stability, its work is now embedded within a
political process that has clearly evolved toward a negotiated settlement based
on realism and compromise. Over the past two decades, the Security Council
has progressively moved away from approaches centered on confrontation or
political formulas that proved impossible to implement. Instead, successive
resolutions have emphasized practical negotiations aimed at reaching a mutually
acceptable political solution. Resolution 2797 consolidates this evolution by
placing Morocco's Autonomy Initiative at the center of that process. This evolution reflects a broader principle of
international conflict resolution. Durable peace is rarely achieved through
maximalist positions or zero-sum calculations. Instead, successful peace
processes generally emerge through negotiated political arrangements that
balance sovereignty, local governance, institutional guarantees, and regional
stability. In this respect, the Sahara process
increasingly resembles other successful international experiences where autonomy
arrangements have provided lasting political solutions while preserving the
territorial integrity of sovereign states. The Economic Case for Peace
Resolving the Sahara dispute would generate
benefits extending far beyond the immediate parties. An integrated Maghreb could become one of
Africa's largest economic spaces, connecting Europe, the Mediterranean, the
Atlantic Ocean, and the rapidly expanding markets of West Africa. Such
integration would facilitate trade, reduce transportation costs, improve energy
connectivity, and strengthen industrial value chains across the continent. For Africa, this transformation would
complement the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area
(AfCFTA) and contribute directly to the objectives of the African
Union's Agenda 2063, both of which emphasize regional integration as a
driver of sustainable development. The settlement of the Sahara dispute would also
reinforce Morocco's broader vision of South-South cooperation. Through major
investments in infrastructure, renewable energy, logistics, banking,
agriculture, and telecommunications, Morocco has increasingly positioned itself
as a bridge between Europe and Africa. This vision is perhaps best illustrated by His
Majesty King Mohammed VI's Atlantic Initiative, which aims to provide the
Sahel countries with strategic access to the Atlantic Ocean through Morocco's
modern port infrastructure. By reducing the effects of geographical isolation,
improving connectivity, and facilitating international trade, the initiative
offers a concrete response to many of the structural challenges facing the
Sahel. A peaceful and stable Sahara would
significantly enhance the implementation of this ambitious regional strategy,
transforming the Southern Provinces into a gateway connecting Atlantic Africa
with the Mediterranean, Europe, and global markets. Voici la troisième et dernière partie, qui conclut
l'article dans un style adapté à une publication internationale sur la
plateforme du World Social Forum (WSF). Development, Human
Dignity, and the Future of the Southern Provinces
Beyond legal and diplomatic considerations, the
future of the Sahara should ultimately be assessed through the lens of human
development and the well-being of its population.
Sustainable peace cannot be
achieved solely through political agreements; it must also translate into
tangible improvements in people's daily lives, expanded economic opportunities,
and stronger democratic institutions. Over the past two decades, Morocco has pursued
an ambitious development strategy in its Southern Provinces, investing heavily
in transport infrastructure, renewable energy, education, healthcare,
fisheries, logistics, and industrial development. These investments are not
merely economic projects; they form part of a broader vision aimed at
transforming the region into one of Africa's principal gateways for trade,
innovation, and South-South cooperation. The launch of the New Development Model for
the Southern Provinces illustrates this long-term commitment. Designed
through consultations with elected representatives, local stakeholders, and
civil society organizations, this strategy seeks to ensure that economic growth
translates into improved living standards, expanded employment opportunities,
and enhanced social inclusion. The development of modern ports, highways,
airports, desalination plants, renewable energy projects, universities, and
industrial platforms demonstrates a clear commitment to integrating the Southern
Provinces into Morocco's broader national development agenda while
strengthening their role as a strategic bridge between Africa, Europe, and the
Atlantic. This development-oriented approach is fully
consistent with the philosophy underlying the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative. Political autonomy acquires its true meaning only when accompanied by inclusive
economic development, accountable governance, and effective participation of
local populations in managing their own affairs. In this sense, autonomy is not merely an
institutional arrangement; it represents a governance model capable of
reconciling political stability with economic opportunity and democratic
participation. The World Social Forum
and the Responsibility of Civil Society
The World Social Forum has long provided a
global platform where civil society organizations, academics, policymakers,
social movements, and citizens exchange ideas on peace, justice, democracy, and
sustainable development. It is therefore an appropriate forum to reflect upon the
broader lessons emerging from the evolution of the Sahara issue. The international community increasingly
recognizes that protracted conflicts impose costs far beyond the territories
directly concerned. They undermine development, weaken regional institutions,
discourage investment, and reduce opportunities for future generations. Civil society has an essential role to play in
promoting dialogue, combating misinformation, encouraging reconciliation, and
supporting political solutions that prioritize human dignity over ideological
confrontation. Rather than perpetuating narratives rooted in
historical antagonisms, international debates should increasingly focus on
practical solutions capable of improving people's lives. In this regard, the
Moroccan Autonomy Initiative deserves to be examined not only through legal or
diplomatic perspectives but also through its potential contribution to
democratic governance, regional development, and long-term stability.
The evolution reflected in Resolution 2797
demonstrates that international diplomacy itself increasingly favors realistic
political solutions over positions that have failed to produce meaningful
progress for decades. A New Chapter for
Africa
Africa is entering a decisive period of its
history. The implementation of the African Continental
Free Trade Area, the African Union's Agenda 2063, the expansion of
transcontinental infrastructure, the green transition, and the digital
transformation all require an environment characterized by stability, cooperation,
and mutual trust. The Sahara dispute should no longer be viewed
exclusively through the lens of the past. It should be understood as part of
Africa's broader effort to overcome the structural legacies of colonialism and
to build stronger institutions capable of addressing twenty-first century
challenges. Resolution 2797 represents precisely such an
opportunity. By placing the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative at
the center of the political process, the United Nations Security Council has
chosen realism over stagnation, compromise over confrontation, and political
innovation over institutional paralysis. This evolution offers an opportunity not only
to resolve a regional dispute but also to strengthen one of Africa's most
strategically important regions at a time when regional cooperation has become
indispensable. The future of North Africa and the Sahel will
not be determined by inherited divisions but by the capacity of states to
cooperate in addressing common challenges. Conclusion
United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797
represents far more than another diplomatic milestone. It symbolizes the international community's
growing recognition that durable peace requires realistic political solutions
grounded in dialogue, compromise, and respect for international law. By identifying the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative
as the exclusive framework for future negotiations, the Security Council has
opened a new chapter in the search for a lasting settlement of the Sahara
dispute. More fundamentally, the resolution reflects a
broader vision of conflict resolution—one that seeks to overcome the divisions
inherited from the colonial period through democratic governance, regional
cooperation, and sustainable development rather than through prolonged
confrontation. The Moroccan Autonomy Initiative should
therefore be understood not only as a proposal for resolving a territorial
dispute but also as a political project aimed at transforming one of Africa's
longest-standing regional conflicts into an opportunity for peace, prosperity,
and continental integration. The responsibility now rests with all
stakeholders to seize this historic moment. The United Nations has provided a clear
political framework. The Security Council has reaffirmed the
principles of realism and compromise. The time has come for the region to move beyond
inherited rivalries and to embrace a future founded upon dialogue, mutual
respect, and shared prosperity. For Africa, the stakes extend well beyond the
Sahara itself. They concern the continent's ability to
overcome the unfinished legacies of colonialism, strengthen regional
cooperation, unlock its immense economic potential, and offer future
generations a horizon defined not by division, but by peace, dignity, and
sustainable development.
Only through such a vision can the aspirations
embodied in Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area,
and the broader project of African integration become a lasting reality.
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