As diplomatic maneuvering intensifies ahead of the upcoming United Nations Security Council vote on a new resolution concerning the Western Sahara issue, Algeria has begun signaling that it may abstain if the text includes any reference to Morocco's sovereignty over the territory. A few weeks before the United Nations Security Council is due to vote on a new resolution concerning the Sahara issue, Algeria has begun signaling that it may abstain if the text includes any reference to Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. The Algerian newspapers El Khabar and Le Soir, both known for their proximity to government circles, cited «sources in New York» claiming that Algeria may not vote in favor of the Security Council's draft resolution related to Moroccan sovereignty. The same sources stressed that «Algeria remains deeply committed to organizing a self-determination referendum as the only definitive solution to this conflict». According to these reports, this position reflects «Algeria's alignment with international legitimacy and United Nations resolutions». Both newspapers also criticized countries supporting Morocco's position on the Sahara, accusing them of «adopting an ambiguous approach to a conflict that has lasted for fifty years, by imposing their own legal interpretation within the United Nations». They directed pointed criticism at the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, accusing them of «rushing ahead» and «exposing the Maghreb, the Sahel, and the Mediterranean regions to renewed instability and insecurity». The same sources added that some Western capitals remain trapped in their geopolitical calculations, arguing that «a just and lasting solution must respect the will of the Sahrawi people rather than rely on temporary deals or narrow strategic interests». Tensions Between Algeria and Russia These media leaks carry unsettling implications for the Polisario Front, coming amid ongoing tensions between Algeria and Russia, which could reduce the likelihood of Moscow using its veto power to support Algeria's stance. Algeria is reportedly monitoring Russia's growing support for Libyan National Army leader Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and its increasing influence in the Sahel region. This comes as Algeria's diplomatic relations with Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have reached a stalemate following mutual ambassador recalls and the postponement of Algeria's new ambassador to Ouagadougou. Meanwhile, those same Sahel countries are experiencing what observers describe as a «golden age» in relations with Moscow, which has expanded both its military and political presence in the region. The reports about Algeria's potential abstention emerged just 24 hours after a phone call between Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, during which, according to Algeria's Foreign Ministry, the Sahara issue was among the regional topics discussed. Polisario's Unchanged Position Amid these fast-moving developments, the Polisario Front's «Foreign Minister», Mohamed Salem Beissat, held a press conference on Tuesday to outline the proposal the Front had submitted the previous day to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. However, the Front offered no new position, merely reiterating its call for a self-determination referendum, an option the UN has long deemed unfeasible, given persistent disputes over the definition of eligible voters. Meanwhile, the new UN draft resolution, prepared by the United States and partially leaked to the media, reportedly urges all parties to engage in serious negotiations around Morocco's autonomy proposal, which it describes as «the only viable solution» to end the Sahara conflict. In parallel, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. envoy to the Middle East, announced on Sunday that the Trump administration is mediating to broker a peace agreement between Morocco and Algeria, expressing confidence that a deal could be reached within sixty days.
