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After decades of mediation, the Security Council has acknowledged that durable peace cannot emerge from unrealistic or outdated political formulas, but rather from practical solutions capable of reconciling international legality with geopolitical realities.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.
Photos
