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UN's top security body has approved a US-backed measure that endorses Morocco's claim regarding the contested Western Sahara, despite significant opposition from neighboring Algeria.

Split Vote Bolsters Moroccan Stance

Although the recent vote was split, the resolution represents the strongest endorsement to date for Morocco's plan to maintain sovereignty over the territory, which additionally enjoys support from the majority of European Union members and a growing number of African nation partners.

Measure Structure and Key Components

The resolution describes Morocco's plan as a foundation for negotiation. As with previous measures, the document makes no mention of a vote on independence that contains independence as an choice, which represents the approach long supported by the pro-independence Polisario movement and its supporters.

Real autonomy under Morocco's authority could constitute a most feasible resolution.

Historical Context

The territory is a phosphate-rich area of coastline desert the area of Colorado which was under Spanish control until the mid-1970s. It is asserted by both the Moroccan government and the Polisario Front, which operates from refugee camps in south-western neighboring Algeria and asserts to speak for the indigenous people native to the contested region.

Decision Results and Global Reactions

The United States, which sponsored the resolution, guided eleven nations in deciding in favor, while 3 nations – Russia, China and Pakistan – abstained. Algeria, the movement's primary supporter, did not participate.

The US ambassador, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said the decision had been "significant" and would "build on the momentum for a long, long overdue peace in Western Sahara".

Amar Bendjama, the Algerian ambassador to the UN, said that while the resolution was an improvement on earlier iterations, it "contains a series of deficiencies".

Peacekeeping Operation and Upcoming Assessment

The resolution also extends the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Western Sahara for another twelve months, as has been done for more than thirty years. Prior extensions, however, have not included a mention to Moroccan and its supporters' favored outcome.

The measure calls on all sides participating to "take this unprecedented opportunity for a enduring resolution." Depending on developments, it requests the UN leader to assess the operation's authority within half a year.

Area Consequences and Current Situation

The change could disrupt a long-stalled situation that for many years has escaped resolution, notwithstanding a United Nations peacekeeping operation that was designed to be short-term. Demonstrations have ensued in indigenous refugee camps in the neighboring country this recent period, where residents have pledged not to give up their fight for self-determination.

The Moroccan government controls almost all of Western Sahara, except for a narrow area called the "liberated area" that lies east of a Moroccan-built barrier.

Historical Background and Current Events

A 1991-era truce was meant to pave the way for a referendum on self-determination, but fighting over participation criteria blocked it from taking place.

Over the years, Morocco has developed the disputed region, constructing a maritime facility and a long road. Government subsidies keep food and energy costs low, and the population has ballooned as Moroccans establish homes in cities such as Dakhla and Laayoune.

Polisario ended the ceasefire in 2020 after confrontations near a road the government was constructing to Mauritania.

The movement has subsequently regularly documented security activity, while Morocco has mostly denied open conflict. The United Nations calls it "limited tensions".

Global Diplomacy and Coming Prospects

In response to the draft resolution, the movement stated that it would not join any process aiming "to validate Morocco's illegal military occupation," adding resolution "can never be achieved by supporting expansionism".

The situation constitutes the central issue in north African diplomacy. Morocco views endorsement of its proposal as a benchmark for how it assesses its international partners.

Recently, the UN envoy proposed partitioning Western Sahara, a suggestion neither side accepted. He encouraged the government to specify what autonomy would involve and cautioned that a absence of progress might raise questions about the United Nations' role and "if there remains opportunity and willingness for us to remain effective."

The initiative to reassess the United Nations Mission comes as the US reduces funding for UN programmes and organizations, including peacekeeping.