DR ‹ › The United Nations Security Council unveiled the schedule of its rotating presidencies for 2026 on Friday, January 2. Two key moments related to the Western Sahara issue will be overseen by countries allied with Morocco. In April, Bahrain will assume the presidency of the Council. The Gulf kingdom, which recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, opened a consulate general in Laayoune in December 2020. April is expected to be a pivotal month, as the future of MINURSO will be reviewed. Under Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, the UN Secretary-General is required to submit «within six months following the extension of the mandate, a strategic review concerning the future mandate of MINURSO, taking into account the outcome of the negotiations». To date, however, talks between Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania have yet to begin. In October, Greece will take over the rotating presidency. Athens has supported Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara since January 2020, a position it reiterated during Security Council debates last October. It is worth noting that Algeria's Foreign Minister, Ahmed Attaf, visited Greece in December but failed to alter Athens' stance on the Sahara issue.
