The decades-long dispute over Western Sahara once again took centre stage at the 80th United Nations General Assembly, highlighting the enduring tensions between Morocco and Algeria over one of the Maghreb’s most intractable conflicts.
Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf reignited the debate, reminding the Assembly that the Sahara issue has been under UN scrutiny for more than sixty years.
Morocco responded firmly through its Ambassador Omar Hilale, who emphasized that it was Morocco itself that first submitted the question to the UN in 1956, countering the narrative that Rabat had avoided international oversight.
Hilale further stressed that the UN Security Council now treats the Sahara not merely as a decolonization issue, but as one of peace and security, underscoring a fundamental divergence with Algeria. “Since 2007, the Council has adopted a resolution every year confirming the preeminence of the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative, which it considers serious and credible,” he said, reaffirming Morocco’s long-standing position advocating autonomy under its sovereignty.
Beyond historical arguments, Hilale highlighted Morocco’s substantial developments in the region, including infrastructure, universities, hospitals, and economic integration, framing these as tangible proof of governance and stability. He also noted the opening of thirty consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla as a “concrete recognition of Moroccan sovereignty.”
Importantly, the ambassador echoed King Mohammed VI’s call for dialogue during the Throne Day celebrations on July 29, inviting Algeria to engage in a “concerted solution, without winners or losers, in a spirit of mutual respect.” While Morocco projected an image of openness and conciliation, Algiers has yet to respond formally, leaving the possibility of a breakthrough uncertain.
This exchange underscores the entrenched positions of both capitals. For Morocco, the focus is on regional stability and political compromise; for Algeria, the emphasis remains on the principle of self-determination supported by the Polisario Front. As the UN session demonstrated, the Sahara question remains unresolved, with regional security, diplomacy, and economic cooperation caught in the balance.
The stalemate is more than a bilateral quarrel—it is a reminder of the complex interplay of history, sovereignty, and international law shaping North African geopolitics, and of the challenges that lie ahead for any constructive dialogue between Rabat and Algiers.
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