Western Sahara: US draft limits solution to autonomy
A new US draft resolution at the UN Security Council makes Morocco's autonomy plan the sole basis for resolving the Western Sahara conflict, with MINURSO set to become a political mission from May 2027.
The United States, as the "penholder" on the Western Sahara file, has submitted a new draft resolution to the UN Security Council describing autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as "the only realistic solution" that is just, durable and mutually acceptable to end the conflict, according to the first version of the text revealed by Le360 and confirmed by other Moroccan outlets including Hespress.
Referendum chapter closed, MINURSO renamed
The draft proposes renaming the UN mission "MINURSO" (originally tasked with organizing a self-determination referendum) to "MINUSO," shifting its mission from overseeing a referendum to supporting a "political solution" based on Morocco's autonomy proposal, made the sole basis for continuing negotiations. The text also calls on the parties to fully cooperate with UN facilitators on this basis, and praises "the leadership of President Trump" on the issue.
Timeline of the draft's key milestones
| Date | Measure |
|---|---|
| December 15, 2026 | The Secretary-General must submit detailed proposals on the new mission's structure, staffing and resources |
| January 31, 2027 | At least a 50% reduction of the mission's authorized uniformed personnel, with closure or consolidation of some sites |
| April 30, 2027 | End of MINURSO's current peacekeeping mandate |
| May 1, 2027 | Launch of the new mission as a special political mission rather than a peacekeeping one |
| October 31, 2027 | End of the new political mission's set mandate |
Tindouf camps and the Polisario's reaction
The draft asks the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) to complete refugee registration in the Tindouf region within six months, with unhindered access and freedom of movement, saying the situation there "cannot continue to be managed responsibly" as it stands. The text also condemns the May 5, 2026 attack on the city of Smara, claimed by the separatist front, and states the Council "will consider further measures" if the parties do not engage constructively.
In response, the Polisario Front sent, according to Le360, an urgent letter to the Security Council's current president, Greek ambassador Aglaia Balta, calling the draft a "serious and unprecedented deviation" and warning of a "total withdrawal" from the UN peace process, citing Security Council resolution 690 of 1991.
Context
The new draft comes days before the expiry of resolution 2797, adopted by the Security Council on October 31, 2025, which extended MINURSO's mandate by one year and referred for the first time to autonomy "under Moroccan sovereignty." The text now circulating remains a first draft, and no vote date has yet been set at the Security Council.