A group of 40 states reaffirmed, on Monday in Geneva, their support for the “full and complete sovereignty” of Morocco over its Southern Provinces, stressing that the Sahara issue is a political dispute falling under the purview of the United Nations Security Council and calling for a solution based on the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative.
In a statement delivered under agenda item 2, the group emphasized that the interaction of Member States with the Council and the High Commissioner must “remain bilateral in nature and be protected from any exploitation.”
The Sahara issue is a political dispute dealt with by the Security Council, which affirms that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could be a most feasible outcome, according to the statement delivered by Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Ambassador Omar Zniber.
The group also expressed its support for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2797, which aims to revive the political process through the organization of negotiations involving the four parties named, on the basis of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan, with a view to achieving a definitive and mutually acceptable political solution.
Furthermore, the forty states welcomed Morocco’s long-standing commitment to “constructive, voluntary, and in-depth” interaction with the United Nations human rights system, particularly with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the special procedures of the Human Rights Council, several of which have visited Morocco, including the Sahara, for the promotion and respect of human rights throughout its territory.
The group also welcomed the opening by numerous countries of Consulates General in the cities of Dakhla and Laayoune, considering that these diplomatic representations serve as a lever for strengthening economic cooperation, investment, and regional and continental development.
“The resolution of this regional dispute will help to realize the legitimate aspirations of African and Arab peoples for integration and development, a goal that Morocco continues to pursue and for which it is making sincere and continuous efforts,” the statement concluded.
MAP: 02 March 2026
