On the eve of the UN Security Council meeting dedicated to discussing MINURSO's mandate, the Polisario Front sent a letter to the Council's president expressing its firm rejection of the U.S. draft resolution, describing the text as a «serious and unprecedented deviation» from the principles of international law. On the eve of the UN Security Council's closed consultations on the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), the Polisario Front sent a letter to Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations and current President of the Security Council, expressing its rejection of the draft resolution circulated by the United States on October 22 as the Council's penholder. In the letter, signed by Sidi Mohamed Ammar, the Polisario's representative to the UN and coordinator with MINURSO, the Front denounced the U.S. draft as one that «reflects Washington's national position» and represents «a serious and unprecedented deviation not only from the principles of international law governing the question of Western Sahara as a decolonization issue, but also from the framework under which the Security Council has traditionally addressed it». The separatist movement added that the draft «includes elements that undermine the foundations of the UN peace process in Western Sahara and constitute a grave violation of the territory's international status». The letter reaffirmed the Polisario's «commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace» for which it claims to have made «significant concessions and sacrifices since the beginning of the UN-led peace process». It also referred to a «comprehensive proposal» submitted to the UN Secretary-General on October 20, 2025, which reiterates the group's previous positions. «The Polisario Front affirms that if this draft resolution is adopted without addressing the aforementioned concerns effectively, it will not participate in any political process or negotiations based on its content», the letter warned. The Polisario expressed confidence that Security Council members would «remain committed to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the relevant rules of international law applicable to Western Sahara» and urged stakeholders to «use their influence constructively to create the necessary conditions for both parties, the Polisario Front and Morocco, to engage in serious, credible, and time-bound negotiations, without preconditions and in good faith, under UN auspices». A Draft Resolution That Breaks with the Past The U.S.-circulated draft resolution marks a clear break from its predecessors, giving the parties only three months to reach a solution to the decades-old conflict. In its initial version, the draft expresses full support for UN Secretary-General António Guterres and his Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, in their efforts to advance the political process, including consultations with Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania to build on progress made. It highlights the support expressed by member states for Morocco's autonomy initiative, described as «serious, credible, and realistic», and recognized as «the most credible basis for a just and lasting resolution to the conflict». The text also «welcomes the leadership of former U.S. President Donald Trump» in addressing the Western Sahara dispute and calls on the parties to engage «without delay» using the Moroccan autonomy proposal as the sole framework for negotiations, while commending Security Council members for their commitment to facilitating progress. In paragraph five, the draft praises the United States' readiness to host negotiations between the parties to support de Mistura's mission toward a long-term solution for Western Sahara and the broader region. It extends MINURSO's mandate until January 31, 2026, and urges all parties to take part in talks «without delay or preconditions», with the goal of reaching a final and mutually acceptable political solution before the mission's mandate expires, «ensuring genuine autonomy within the Moroccan state while guaranteeing the right to self-determination for the people of Western Sahara». Finally, the draft requests the UN Secretary-General to provide regular briefings to the Security Council «whenever deemed necessary during the mandate period», including one six weeks after renewal and another before expiration, along with recommendations on transforming or ending MINURSO based on the outcome of the negotiations.
