Morocco prepares for MINURSO withdrawal and reaffirms ceasefire in the Sahara

The King of Morocco has ordered the creation of coordination mechanisms to oversee the dismantling and withdrawal of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), following the UN Security Council's decision not to renew the mission's mandate on October 30. The monarch also reaffirmed Rabat's commitment to maintaining the ceasefire and ordered increased vigilance regarding developments in Western Sahara, according to a statement from the Royal Office released on Wednesday, November 4.

The guidelines were conveyed during a working session chaired by Mohammed VI at the Royal Palace in Rabat, aimed at assessing the next steps following the conclusion of the United Nations mission's mandate.

According to the statement, the meeting was attended by the head of government, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, the royal advisor Fouad Ali El Himma, the Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit, and Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces and commander of the Southern Zone.

During the meeting, the Moroccan sovereign established as priorities respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom, safeguarding national security, and preserving the stability and tranquility of citizens, particularly in the so-called Southern Provinces.

Among the main decisions announced is the assignment of new responsibilities to the Coordination Office with MINURSO, linked to the Ministry of the Interior, to coordinate and provide support for the liquidation and withdrawal operations of the United Nations mission.

According to the Royal Cabinet, the structure should facilitate the administrative and operational procedures associated with the process, seeking to ensure an orderly and undisturbed transition.

Rabat reaffirms commitment to the ceasefire.

One of the central points of the Moroccan royal family's communication is the reaffirmation of the country's commitment to the ceasefire, regardless of the end of MINURSO's mandate. "The Kingdom's firm commitment to the ceasefire is a voluntary commitment that will not change with the end of the United Nations mission's mandate," the statement said.

The same communication maintains that MINURSO has repeatedly failed to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire and to enforce the consequences of its violations. The Royal Cabinet also considers that the context that led to the creation of the mission and its initial functions have become obsolete, an argument it associates with changes in the positions of international actors.

Morocco thus indicates that it intends to uphold its international commitments, while strengthening national mechanisms for monitoring the situation within its territory.

Autonomy as a political solution

On the diplomatic front, Mohammed VI highlighted developments that Rabat considers positive for its position on the Sahara, namely the recognition of Moroccan sovereignty by countries considered friends and partners.

The statement reiterates the proposal for autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as the political solution advocated by the Kingdom to end the regional conflict.

According to the official Moroccan position, autonomy constitutes "the only political solution that offers all the necessary elements to definitively put an end to this artificial regional conflict."

The monarch further emphasized that the Kingdom's diplomatic doctrine is based on preserving peace and contributing to its consolidation through various means, without prejudice to national sovereignty.

The new guidelines come at a time of redefining the international framework for monitoring the Sahara dispute, following the Security Council's decision not to renew MINURSO's mandate, taken at its meeting on October 30.

Wednesday's meeting thus signals Morocco's intention to directly coordinate the national procedures associated with the mission's departure, maintain its diplomatic strategy, and continue development projects in the Southern Provinces.