El Salvador reaffirms support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative at UN

Saturday 03 - 11:00

El Salvador has reiterated its support for Morocco’s efforts to advance a political settlement of the long-running regional dispute over the Sahara, highlighting what it described as the need for a realistic, pragmatic and sustainable approach.

Speaking in New York before the Fourth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, El Salvador’s representative said the Moroccan autonomy initiative represents a fundamental component of efforts aimed at resolving the dispute.

The statement places El Salvador among the countries publicly backing a negotiated approach centered on political realism and long-term sustainability, while maintaining the United Nations framework for the search for a settlement.

Support for a UN-led political process

During the intervention, the Salvadoran diplomat also expressed support for the work of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara.

El Salvador welcomed the envoy’s efforts to facilitate the political process under United Nations auspices, emphasizing the importance of international mediation in efforts to move the issue toward a negotiated outcome.

The position reflects a two-track approach: support for Morocco’s autonomy proposal as an important element of the process, alongside backing for the UN-led diplomatic framework.

Morocco’s autonomy proposal at the center of debate

Morocco’s autonomy initiative, submitted to the United Nations in 2007, has remained a central element of Rabat’s diplomatic position on the Sahara dispute. El Salvador’s latest statement specifically identifies the proposal as a fundamental component of efforts to reach a settlement.

The remarks come as the United Nations continues its consideration of the Western Sahara issue through its Fourth Committee, formally known as the Special Political and Decolonization Committee. The committee’s 2026 agenda includes hearings devoted to the question of Western Sahara.

El Salvador had also expressed support for Morocco’s efforts to find a realistic, pragmatic and lasting political solution in a previous Fourth Committee statement, while welcoming the role of the UN Personal Envoy.

A diplomatic position focused on pragmatism

By describing the desired settlement in terms of realism, pragmatism and durability, San Salvador is emphasizing a political approach rather than a military or unilateral path to resolving the dispute.

The statement also underscores the continued role of UN diplomacy. The Personal Envoy’s mission is intended to facilitate political discussions among the parties and contribute to efforts toward a negotiated settlement.

The latest intervention therefore combines recognition of Morocco’s autonomy initiative with support for the broader UN-sponsored political process, keeping diplomacy at the center of El Salvador’s position on the issue.