A coalition of 40 states on Tuesday reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s territorial integrity, issuing a declaration backing the kingdom’s “full and complete sovereignty” over its southern provinces.
In the declaration, delivered by Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Omar Zniber at the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the group stressed that the Sahara issue is a political dispute to be addressed by the UN Security Council (UNSC).
The statement warned against any manipulation of interactions within the council and with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, reiterating that these must remain strictly bilateral.
The coalition reaffirmed that the Western Sahara issue is a political dispute falling under the exclusive jurisdiction of the UNSC.
The group stressed that the initiative for genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty constitutes the most realistic solution for resolving the issue.
The 40 states expressed their full support for the implementation of UNSC Resolution 2797 adopted on 31 October 2025.
The resolution calls for the resumption of the political process through direct negotiations involving the four parties mentioned, based exclusively on the Moroccan Autonomy Plan, with a view to reaching a definitive and mutually acceptable solution.
The group also welcomed Morocco’s recent detailed update of its Autonomy Plan and commended the Kingdom’s humanitarian commitment to ensuring the dignified return
and integration of the populations held captive in the Tindouf camps in accordance with the principle of equal citizenship.
The declaration further highlighted Morocco’s ongoing and sincere commitment to human rights and praised the “constructive, voluntary and profound” interaction that the Kingdom has maintained for many years with the UN human rights system, particularly with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to promote these rights throughout its territory.
The signatories emphasised the unprecedented diplomatic momentum in the southern provinces.
They welcomed the successive opening of numerous Consulates General in the cities of Dakhla and Laâyoune by various countries and noted that these consular representations constitute genuine “levers for strengthening economic cooperation and
investment.”
“The resolution of this regional dispute will help to realise the legitimate aspirations of the African and Arab peoples for integration and development, an objective that Morocco continues to pursue and for which it makes sincere and continuous efforts,” the statement said.
AK/Sf/fss/jn/APA