Senegal confirms support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Sahara

Wednesday 28 May 2025 - 13:03

By: Zahouani Ilham

Senegal confirms support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Sahara

During the recent regional seminar of the United Nations Committee of 24 (C24) held in Dili, Timor-Leste, Senegal reiterated its strong backing for Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative as the most viable compromise to resolve the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

Senegal’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Ambassador Diamane Diome, emphasized that his country supports this initiative as a solution that aligns with international law, the UN Charter, and various Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.

The ambassador highlighted that Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative, regarded as serious and credible by the UN Security Council since 2007, continues to gain increasing international support and strengthens recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.

He noted that 117 countries, including two permanent members of the Security Council, have expressed support—representing over 60% of UN member states. Senegal is proud to have opened a Consulate General in the Moroccan Sahara on April 5, 2021, joining more than thirty other UN member states in this commitment.

Ambassador Diome also praised Morocco’s progress in human rights within its southern provinces, recognized by the Security Council in Resolution 2756. He commended Morocco’s substantial investments and development projects under the new development model launched by King Mohammed VI in 2015, with a budget exceeding $10 billion.

This progress reflects Morocco’s commitment to ensuring sustainable socio-economic and cultural development for the people of its southern provinces.

The Senegalese diplomat also welcomed the participation of democratically elected representatives from the Moroccan Sahara in the work of the UN Committee of 24.

Furthermore, he praised Morocco’s adherence to the ceasefire and its good-faith cooperation with MINURSO, urging other parties to avoid actions that could harm the political process.

Ambassador Diome acknowledged the efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to restart the political process under UN auspices. He called on Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front to engage sincerely in the Geneva roundtable talks following previous formats.

He also urged better cooperation with UN programs and agencies to ensure fundamental rights for the populations in the Tindouf camps, including freedom of expression, association, and access to international humanitarian aid.

Finally, the Senegalese diplomat reaffirmed his country’s full support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces.