Another five African countries, on Wednesday, reaffirmed their support – before the United Nations
General Assembly – for the Moroccan autonomy initiative and for the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over its Western Sahara territory.
Djibouti, Guinea, Togo, Liberia, and Senegal took the floor during the continuation of a debate – which began on Tuesday – regarding a Russian veto in the Security Council. They expressed their backing for the Moroccan plan, first presented in 2007, aimed at resolving the dispute over the Western Sahara.
This plenary session was convened pursuant to General Assembly Resolution 76/262. It addresses the veto cast by Russia on October 30, 2026, against a U.S.-drafted resolution on the Sahara – a text that had garnered eleven out of fifteen votes and would have extended the mandate of MINURSO.
This debate does not lead to a vote, nor can it overturn the veto.
On Tuesday, seven other African nations – Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Comoros, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and The Gambia – had already expressed their support for the Moroccan plan.
On Wednesday, the representative of Djibouti reaffirmed his country’s support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative – within the framework of Morocco’s sovereignty – describing it as the only
political solution capable of leading to a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable settlement.
The diplomat recalled that Security Council Resolution 2797 identified the Moroccan proposal as the basis for negotiations.
He also highlighted the encouraging developments noted by the Secretary-General in his latest report, most notably the resumption of substantive discussions among the four parties following a hiatus of several years.
Guinea also reiterated its support for the Moroccan initiative as the only serious, credible, and realistic basis, while respecting Morocco’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Its representative stated that “the status quo – let alone a stalemate” – cannot be an acceptable prospect for the United Nations after several decades of diplomatic efforts.
He called on the international community to finally close the chapter on this dispute through
compromise, realism, and pragmatism.
Togo, for its part, expressed its full support for the kingdom in its efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution.
Its representative noted that this dispute, which has persisted for more than half a century, deprives the African continent of significant development opportunities.
He presented the Moroccan initiative – submitted to the UN Secretary-General on April 11, 2007 – as the most credible, realistic, and pragmatic basis, a conviction reinforced by Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, 2025. He commended Morocco’s adherence to the ceasefire and its
cooperation with MINURSO, and called for the registration of the populations in the Tindouf camps.
Liberia, meanwhile, reaffirmed its support for the Moroccan initiative as the most realistic, credible, and feasible basis for a negotiated settlement under Moroccan sovereignty. As a member of the Security Council, it had voted in favour of the American draft resolution on October 30. Its representative argued that this text provided a clear political direction while maintaining the United Nations’ engagement, whereas the Russian draft lacked political clarity.
He praised Morocco’s diplomatic efforts and its commitment to exercising restraint and ensuring the safety of UN personnel.
Senegal expressed the view that the autonomy plan offers the promise of a peaceful, sustainable, and development-oriented solution.
It regretted that the use of the veto prevented the Security Council from taking action on the renewal of the mandate of MINURSO.
AK/Sf/fss/as/APA