West-Sahara

[…] Authorizing the continued operations of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 October 2026, the 15-member organ adopted resolution 2797 (2025) … with 11 votes in favour to none against, with 3 abstentions (China, Pakistan and Russian Federation). Algeria did not participate in the vote.

The UN security council has approved a US-backed resolution supporting Morocco’s claim to the disputed Western Sahara, despite fierce opposition from Algeria. Although Friday’s vote was divided, the resolution offers the strongest endorsement yet for Morocco’s plan to keep sovereignty over the territory, which also has backing from most European Union members and a growing number of African allies.

Washington has signalled support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara as well as interest in resolving the conflict there. But Moroccan and U.S. hardliners are pushing to dismantle MINURSO, the dedicated UN mission, and label the pro-independence Polisario Front a terrorist organisation, which could undermine chances of a settlement.

[…] Portugal’s endorsement adds momentum to Morocco’s efforts to gain broader international support for its autonomy framework, which offers limited self-rule under Moroccan sovereignty, a proposal the Polisario rejects.

The UK has repositioned its stance in the Western Sahara conflict. According to British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the Moroccan autonomy plan represents the "most credible" position. … These words mark a turnaround from London's previous support for the UN's decades-long call for a referendum to determine the future of what it classifies as a 'non-self-governing territory'. The new position is in line with that of a number of other, predominantly Western countries.

Talks to resolve the conflict over Western Sahara should take place on the sole basis of a Moroccan plan that would give the region some autonomy under the North African kingdom's sovereignty, the Trump administration said on Tuesday.

[…] Authorizing the Mission’s continued operations until 31 October 2025, the 15-member organ adopted resolution 2756 (2024) (to be issued as document S/RES/2756) with 12 votes in favour, zero against and two abstentions (Russian Federation and Mozambique).  One State, however, did not participate in the vote.

France's President Emmanuel Macron has told Morocco's parliament that he believes Western Sahara should be under Moroccan sovereignty, and has pledged to invest French money there.

French President Emmanuel Macron will head to Morocco next week for a three-day state visit, the Moroccan royal palace said Monday, following years of strained relations. 

The U.N. envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, has floated the idea of dividing the territory between Morocco and the Polisario front as a solution to the near five-decades-old dispute, according to remarks seen by Reuters.