Sahara - UN: Algeria abstains from vote, resolution adopted with 11 votes, 3 abstentions

On Friday, October 31, the United Nations Security Council adopted a new resolution supporting Morocco, extending the mandate of MINURSO. Proposed by the United States, the resolution received 11 votes in favor, with 3 abstentions and no votes against.

Contrary to Algiers' hopes, neither Moscow nor Beijing, both holding permanent seats on the Council, exercised their veto power against the resolution crafted by Washington. As was the case last year, Algeria abstained from participating in the vote.

The resolution reaffirms the legitimacy of Morocco's autonomy initiative, recognized as a serious and credible framework for resolving the conflict under the kingdom's sovereignty. The Council's fifteen members also called on the involved parties — Morocco, Algeria, the Polisario Front, and Mauritania — to resume negotiations «without preconditions and as soon as possible», based on the Moroccan autonomy plan introduced in 2007. These talks are anticipated to occur in the United States.