While Morocco welcomed the new Security Council resolution, the Polisario expressed clear disappointment. In its statement, the Front notably omitted any mention of Algeria's decision to abstain from the vote. Morocco has welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2756, which extends MINURSO's mandate in the Sahara until October 31, 2025, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. «This resolution comes in a context marked by the irreversible course set by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, on the Kingdom's territorial integrity, reflected in the growing support from permanent Security Council members and influential countries for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and the Moroccan Autonomy Plan, along with the ongoing withdrawal of recognition of the so-called 'rasd'», the statement reads. L'Ambassadeur Hilale: Cet appel ferme du Conseil de Sécurité?? rappelle clairement que la #stabilité est essentielle pour prévenir les montées de violence, qui peuvent déstabiliser l'ensemble de la région et retarder les progrès du Processus Politique, étant donné que… pic.twitter.com/VcnwRstEXB — Morocco Mission to the UN-NY (@Morocco_UN) October 31, 2024 Indeed, this resolution passed shortly after Ecuador withdrew its recognition of the «SADR» on October 22. French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed his support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara during his visit to Rabat this week. Moroccan diplomats noted that the approved text includes two significant developments bolstering Rabat's position.»First, the Council 'welcomed the recent momentum and urged that it be built upon'... Second, the Security Council called on other parties 'to avoid actions that could undermine the political process'». Disappointment in the Tindouf Camps On the other hand, the Polisario Front expressed disappointment, stating it would not participate in any peace process that does not fully align with Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions, and the terms of the original settlement plan, which underpins MINURSO's mandate. The Front refers to past UN resolutions advocating a referendum on self-determination for the territory—an approach abandoned in Security Council resolutions since 2007 in favor of a «negotiated political solution». The Polisario reiterated its «categorical rejection of any proposal, from any source, that falls outside the legal framework of Western Sahara as a decolonization issue or contradicts MINURSO's core mandate». In 2000, then-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan dismantled the UN commission responsible for determining voter eligibility for the proposed referendum. The Polisario's statement also disregarded the UN's calls to uphold the ceasefire agreements, instead emphasizing the Sahrawi people's «determination to continue and intensify their struggle for liberation and resistance by all legitimate means, including armed struggle». Notably, the statement omitted any reference to Algeria's refusal to participate in the vote on Resolution 2756. It also lacked the customary expressions of gratitude to Algerian authorities for their «support of its cause». The Polisario's leadership appears perplexed by Algeria's decision to abstain from the vote, despite being a non-permanent member of the Security Council and a close ally.
