Security Council Resolution 2756 (2024) on Western Sahara

Tags : Security Council, Resolution 2756 (2024), Western Sahara, Morocco, MINURSO, Frente Polisario, Algeria, Mauritania,

Security Council Extends UN Mission for Referendum in Western Sahara by One Year, Adopting Resolution 2756 (2024) by Vote of 12 in Favour, with 2 Abstentions

The Security Council today voted to extend by an additional year the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), emphasizing the need to reach a political solution based on compromise and the importance of aligning MINURSO’s strategic focus and UN resources toward that end.

Authorizing the Mission’s continued operations until 31 October 2025, the 15-member organ adopted resolution 2756 (2024) (to be issued as document S/RES/2756) with 12 votes in favour, zero against and two abstentions (Russian Federation and Mozambique). One State, however, did not participate in the vote.

Through the text, the Council called upon the parties to negotiate under the Secretary-General’s auspices without preconditions and in good faith, encouraging the continuation of consultations between his Personal Envoy and Morocco, Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguía el-Hamra y de Río de Oro (Frente POLISARIO), Algeria and Mauritania to build on progress achieved. It reaffirmed its commitment to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

By other terms, it called on the Secretary-General to apply to MINURSO the comprehensive and integrated UN peacekeeping performance policy framework set out in resolution 2436 (2018) and for the safe and regular resupply of MINURSO team sites to ensure the sustainability of the Mission’s presence.

It also strongly urged enhancing cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), including through facilitating visits to the region, and strongly urged Member States to provide new and additional contributions to fund food programmes to ensure the refugees’ humanitarian needs are adequately met.

Algeria’s speaker says its positions were ‘deliberately ignored’

Algeria’s representative, whose country had earlier proposed two amendments to the resolution, said his delegation did not participate in the vote because of “the attitude of the penholder”. His country’s views and positions, despite having been “well-founded” in consonance with the Council’s processes, were “deliberately ignored”. He regretted that the penholder did not demonstrate objectivity or impartiality, but circulated a text that did not “at all” contain elements of prior agreements. “The vote on this resolution changes nothing on the fundamental crux of this issue,” he said. Algeria believes that the right to the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara belongs only to the Saharawi people, and as such will “strive to speak out” on all matters thereon.

Members reject two amendments to resolution

Presenting the proposed amendments before the vote, both of which were not adopted, he said his delegation “has been forced to submit to you these two amendments quite simply because the penholder decided to impose its own draft resolution, and to put it in blue yesterday at 5:30 p.m.”. The Council risks being accused of double standards to the detriment of the people of Western Sahara. “It is the legitimacy of the Council on the subject of human rights that is in question here,” he added. By denying the people of Western Sahara the legal protection that is guaranteed for them under international law, “we will have lost a great deal of his Council’s legitimacy,” he said.

On the first amendment to insert a new paragraph after preambular paragraph 19, the Council voted six in favour (Algeria, China, Guyana, Mozambique, Slovenia, Switzerland) to zero against, with nine abstaining (Ecuador, Japan, France, Malta, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, United Kingdom, United States).

Similarly, the second amendment which sought to insert a new paragraph after operative paragraph 13, saw five members (Algeria, China, Guyana, Mozambique, Slovenia) voting in favour, none against and 10 abstaining.

Mozambique’s delegate, who voted in favour of the amendments, said he did so because they were consistent with previous Council decisions and valid on their own merit, because they relate to human rights. “The resolution in its current form, without the Algerian amendments will not assist the parties in achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution,” he said. On the contrary, it entrenches the trend of a gradual departure from the Mission’s original mandate.

The representative of the Russian Federation, who abstained on the both the United States-prepared draft resolution and on Algeria’s proposed amendments, stressed: “The resolution, in our opinion, does not reflect the real situation on the ground and is hardly going to help facilitate achieve a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict.” A series of proposals and suggested additions to the texts made by his Government and other delegations were ignored. “Our request to clearly delineate in the text of the document the two sides of the conflict, Morocco and the Polisario Front, was also not given necessary attention,” he said, adding: “American penholders have once again forced us to think seriously about whether they are able to act as an impartial participant in the discussions on the subject of Western Sahara.”

Delegates support MINURSO’s critical role in maintaining regional stability

Several members saw renewing MINURSO’s mandate as key to the region’s well-being. “We think this is critical to maintaining stability in the area,” Ecuador’s delegate said. Recalling that his country was part of the Security Council in April 1991 when the Mission was established, he hoped that by the next time Ecuador takes up membership, both parties would act towards each other with political will, good faith and the support of the international community.

Adding to that, the speaker for Sierra Leone urged all parties to the conflict to return to a ceasefire without delay and resume round-table engagements. Further, MINURSO’s operational activities should be continually expanded through increased ground patrols and the resumption of full demining operations east of the Berm for the first time since 2019. Highlighting the international momentum for the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative, he urged an exploration of “this option”.

Also calling for a cessation of hostilities and a return to a ceasefire, France’s speaker said: “the low-intensity hostilities should not make us forget the risks that this conflict poses to the stability of the region and to the local populations.” He welcomed the resumption of refuelling operations at its observation sites east of the Berm, underscoring the importance of respecting MINURSO’s freedom of movement. He added that his delegation did not vote on Algeria’s proposed amendment because it believes that the mandate in its current form is adapted to the situation in Western Sahara.

The representative of the United States said it is more urgent than ever to reach a political solution for Western Sahara and that Council members should lend all possible support for a solution that is just, lasting and mutually acceptable. “The people of Western Sahara and the region are counting on us,” he said. “Today is an important step, which now should be reflected in urgent action consistent with the resolution we just adopted.”

“This resolution reaffirms the Council’s commitment to assisting the parties in achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution based on compromise,” added the United Kingdom’s representative. Slovenia’s representative echoed that sentiment, noting that he also voted in favour of the amendments presented by Algeria because “we believe that as a cross-cutting matter, UN Missions are strengthened by having human rights responsibilities”. This benefits the local population and contributes to a more sustainable peace.

Rounding out the meeting, Switzerland’s speaker, in her capacity as Council President for October, said it is “absolutely critical” to support a consensus that “can allow this mandate to be discharged”. Her delegation voted on the amendment stating that OHCHR didn’t get to the region for the ninth consecutive year, she said, adding that her country is “strongly attached to the protection of human rights in all contexts,” including Western Sahara. Because the Mission’s mandate provides strong support to the work of the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy and Special Representative for a fair, mutually acceptable political solution, her delegation abstained on the second amendment to ensure continuity for the Mission’s work.

The Situation Concerning Western Sahara (S/2024/707)

Draft Resolution Text (S/2024/796)

The Security Council,

Recalling and reaffirming all its previous resolutions on Western Sahara,

Reaffirming its strong support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and his personal envoy to implement Resolutions 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007), 1813 (2008), 1871 (2009), 1920 (2010), 1979 (2011), 2044 (2012), 2099 (2013), 2152 (2014), 2218 (2015), 2285 (2016), 2351 (2017), 2414 (2018), 2440 (2018), 2468 (2019), 2494 (2019), 2548 (2020), 2602 (2021), 2654 (2022), and 2703 (2023),

Expressing full support for Staffan de Mistura, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, and his work to advance the political process based on progress made by the previous Personal Envoy, and welcoming his visits to the region in this regard,

Welcoming the momentum created by the first roundtable held on 5–6 December 2018 and the second on 21–22 March 2019, noting that Morocco, the POLISARIO Front, Algeria, and Mauritania participated seriously and respectfully in the UN-led political process on Western Sahara to find common ground, recalling significant contributions by the former Personal Envoy in leading the roundtable process, and welcoming the current Envoy’s consultations with Morocco, the POLISARIO Front, Algeria, Mauritania, as well as Spain, the United States, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom at UN Headquarters from 27 to 31 March 2023,

Encouraging continued consultations between the Personal Envoy, Morocco, the POLISARIO Front, Algeria, and Mauritania to build on the progress made,

Reaffirming its commitment to support the parties in reaching a fair, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, that ensures the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara within arrangements consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, noting the role and responsibilities of the parties, welcoming the recently created momentum, and urging that it be leveraged,

Calling once again on Morocco, the POLISARIO Front, Algeria, and Mauritania to strengthen cooperation with each other, particularly by building trust, and with the United Nations, as well as to actively participate in the political process and make progress toward a political solution,

Considering that resolving this long-standing dispute and enhancing cooperation among the Maghreb Union countries would contribute to stability and security in the Sahel region, creating jobs and opportunities for all inhabitants of the region and fostering growth,

Welcoming the efforts of the Secretary-General to closely monitor all peacekeeping operations, including the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), and reiterating that the Council must adopt a rigorous and strategic approach in deploying resources for peacekeeping and managing resources effectively,

Recalling Resolution 2378 (2017), which requested the Secretary-General to ensure that data on the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations, including operational performance, is used to improve mission analysis and evaluation based on clear, well-defined criteria, and also recalling Resolution 2436 (2018), which requested the Secretary-General to make performance-based decisions on rewards, deployments, remediation, training, withholding reimbursements, or repatriation of uniformed or civilian personnel,

Recalling Resolutions 2242 (2015) and 2538 (2020), expressing the desire for greater female participation in UN peacekeeping military and police contingents,

Considering MINURSO’s critical role on the ground and the necessity for it to ensure safe and regular resupply of its bases, conduct patrols across its area of responsibility, and fully implement its mandate, including supporting the Personal Envoy in achieving a mutually acceptable political solution, and welcoming the progress made by MINURSO to maintain these vital operations,

Expressing deep concern over the breakdown of the ceasefire,

Expressing concern over violations of agreements made with the United Nations, reaffirming the importance of full respect for these agreements, and taking note of commitments made by the POLISARIO Front to the former Personal Envoy,

Taking note of Morocco’s proposal submitted to the Secretary-General on 11 April 2007, welcoming Morocco’s serious and credible efforts toward a resolution, and also taking note of the POLISARIO Front’s proposal submitted to the Secretary-General on 10 April 2007,

Encouraging the parties to show greater political will in seeking a solution by examining their respective proposals more closely and renewing their commitment to the UN’s efforts with a spirit of realism and compromise, also encouraging neighboring states to contribute to the political process, and emphasizing the importance of the parties advancing their positions toward a solution,

Encouraging the parties to continue cooperating with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to define and implement confidence-building measures that foster trust for the success of the political process,

Highlighting the importance of improving the human rights situation in Western Sahara and the Tindouf camps, urging the parties to work actively with the international community to establish and implement independent and credible measures to ensure full respect for human rights, mindful of their obligations under international law, calling for enhanced cooperation with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, including by facilitating visits to the region, and once again urging that this cooperation intensify,

Encouraging the parties to persist in efforts to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights in Western Sahara and the Tindouf refugee camps, including freedoms of expression and association, and prioritizing these efforts,

Welcoming in this regard Morocco’s actions, the role of the National Human Rights Council’s regional commissions in Dakhla and Laayoune, and Morocco’s interaction with mechanisms under the UN Human Rights Council’s special procedures,

Noting with deep concern the ongoing suffering of Sahrawi refugees and their reliance on external humanitarian aid, also noting with deep concern the insufficient funding for those in the Tindouf refugee camps and the risks associated with decreasing food aid, and strongly encouraging donors to increase contributions in light of the worsening humanitarian situation, with aid agencies facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance in line with UN best practices,

Once again urgently requesting that refugees in the Tindouf camps be properly registered, and stressing the importance of taking all necessary measures to this end,

Recalling Resolutions 1325 (2000) and 2250 (2015) and related resolutions, stressing the importance of the parties’ commitment to continue negotiations under UN auspices and encouraging full, equal, and effective participation of women and active participation of youth in these talks,

Considering the status quo as unacceptable, urging the avoidance of any actions that could undermine the political process, and further noting that progress in negotiations is essential for improving the quality of life of the people of Western Sahara in all aspects,

Affirming its full support for the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Western Sahara and Head of MINURSO, Alexander Ivanko,

Having considered the Secretary-General’s report dated 1 October 2024 (S/2024/707),

Decides to extend MINURSO’s mandate until 31 October 2025;

Emphasizes the need for a realistic, pragmatic, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution to the issue of Western Sahara based on compromise, highlighting the importance of adapting MINURSO’s strategic actions and allocating UN resources toward this aim;

Fully supports the efforts of the Secretary-General and his personal envoy to facilitate negotiations toward a solution to the Western Sahara issue, based on the progress achieved and the framework established by the previous Personal Envoy, and strongly welcomes the current Personal Envoy’s efforts, including the consultations held from 27–31 March 2023, and strongly encourages Morocco, the POLISARIO Front, Algeria, and Mauritania to cooperate with the Personal Envoy throughout the process in a spirit of realism and compromise to bring it to fruition;

Requests that the parties resume negotiations under the Secretary-General’s auspices without preconditions and in good faith, taking into account the efforts made since 2006 and the developments since then, to achieve a fair, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution that ensures the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in a context consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, noting the role and responsibilities of the parties in this regard;

Invites Member States to provide the necessary assistance and support for these talks and the efforts of the Personal Envoy;

Reaffirms that the military agreements with MINURSO concerning the ceasefire must be fully respected, urges the parties to fully comply with these agreements, fulfill commitments made to the former Personal Envoy, and refrain from any actions that could compromise UN-facilitated negotiations or destabilize the situation in Western Sahara;

Requests all parties to fully cooperate with MINURSO, including regarding its freedom to engage with all interlocutors, and to take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and complete freedom of movement and immediate access of UN personnel and associated personnel in carrying out their mandate, consistent with agreements made with the UN;

Requests the safe and regular resupply of MINURSO’s operational bases to ensure the Mission’s viability;

Stresses the importance of the parties recommitting to advancing the political process in view of new negotiations, recalls its endorsement of the recommendation in the report dated 14 April 2008 (S/2008/251), that it is essential for the parties to demonstrate realism and a spirit of compromise to move forward in the negotiations, encourages neighboring countries to make significant and active contributions to this process, and emphasizes the importance of the parties developing their positions to advance toward a solution;

Requests the parties to demonstrate political will and work in an environment conducive to dialogue to advance negotiations and increase engagement in the UN-led political process, urges the regional countries to actively support this process, and emphasizes the importance of the parties advancing their positions toward a solution;

Encourages the parties to continue working with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to further implement confidence-building measures and encourages the international community to assist these efforts;

Requests the Secretary-General to brief the Security Council on a regular basis, at any time he deems appropriate within the mandate period and at least once per year on the status and progress of these negotiations under his auspices, the parties’ compliance with their obligations, the difficulties facing MINURSO, steps taken to ensure MINURSO’s full functionality, and the implementation of this resolution.

Source : UN Web

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