UK Reaffirms Support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, Backs UN Efforts on Western Sahara
Rabat, The Gulf Observer: The United Kingdom has once again voiced strong support for Morocco’s autonomy plan, describing it as the most credible, viable, and pragmatic pathway toward resolving the decades-long dispute over the Western Sahara.
The statement was made by Hamish Falconer during a session of the House of Commons, where he reiterated London’s commitment to achieving a durable and lasting settlement to the conflict.
Falconer emphasized that the UK views Morocco’s autonomy proposal as the most practical basis for negotiations, stating that London’s position aligns with efforts to secure a sustainable political solution. He also welcomed United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797, highlighting it as an important step within the international framework to resolve the dispute.
Morocco first introduced its autonomy initiative in 2007, proposing significant self-governance for the Western Sahara region while maintaining Moroccan sovereignty. The plan has since gained increasing international support as a realistic and peaceful solution to a conflict that has persisted for over five decades.
In October 2025, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2797, renewing the mandate of the MINURSO peacekeeping mission until October 2026. Notably, the resolution positioned Morocco’s autonomy plan as the basis for negotiations toward a final settlement. The measure was adopted with 11 votes in favor, none against, and three abstentions from China, Russia, and Pakistan, while Algeria did not participate in the vote.
The United States, which sponsored the resolution, along with several Western and African nations, has endorsed the framework as a pragmatic approach to advancing peace in the region. Washington has repeatedly stressed that negotiations should be anchored in Morocco’s autonomy initiative as the most feasible pathway to a lasting solution.
Regional and international backing for Morocco’s position has continued to grow. The Gulf Cooperation Council has consistently reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s territorial integrity and autonomy proposal, while several members of the European Union have also aligned their positions with the framework outlined in Resolution 2797.
Observers note that the increasing international endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy plan has shifted the dynamics of the dispute, weakening the position of the Polisario Front and its key supporter, Algeria.
The latest remarks from the United Kingdom underscore growing global momentum toward a negotiated settlement based on Morocco’s autonomy initiative, aimed at ensuring long-term stability and peace in the region.
