Algiers, November 3, 2025 – In a period of heightened sensitivity surrounding the long-standing Western Sahara conflict, Algeria has once again asserted its crucial role in upholding international law. This comes after successfully countering an attempt to undermine the core principles of the Sahrawi cause within the United Nations Security Council.
A quietly advanced proposal sought to reduce the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to a mere three months. The intended consequence was to effectively prioritize Morocco’s autonomy plan as the sole ‘realistic’ option, effectively nullifying the 1991 agreement for a self-determination referendum.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Algerian diplomacy, under the leadership of the President, acted swiftly and decisively. Engaging in a balanced diplomatic effort spanning New York, Washington, and Algiers, Algeria combined reasoned persuasion with unwavering adherence to principle, successfully steering negotiations back on course.
The final resolution reflected these efforts. MINURSO’s mandate was renewed for a full year, with a reaffirmed commitment that any resolution must align with the UN Charter, international law, and the inalienable right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination.
The outcome at the Security Council signifies more than a mere amendment to the resolution; it represents a substantive shift. MINURSO, once facing potential dissolution, has regained its fundamental role as a guarantor of the decolonization process. Biased language aimed at legitimizing the Moroccan perspective was excluded, underscoring that international law, not alliances of convenience, holds ultimate authority.
Through this quiet yet decisive victory, Algeria has reminded the world that it is not a peripheral actor in this conflict but rather a steadfast voice for justice and freedom in Africa. Algeria’s intervention was not intended to obstruct the resolution but to preserve its spirit, as silence in such moments equates to complicity with disregard for international norms.
This debate has revealed not only diplomatic differences but also Algeria’s continued ability to correct the United Nations’ course when it deviates. Algeria has successfully returned the Sahrawi issue to its rightful context: an incomplete decolonization process, not simply a temporary political settlement. Algeria remains committed to a just and lasting solution.
