Scenes of joy filled the streets of Rabat, Casablanca and other major Moroccan cities after the UN Security Council voted in favor of a new resolution on Western Sahara. The text, which recognizes the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco as a “credible and realistic” basis, was seen as a major diplomatic victory for the kingdom.
Popular fervor and historical symbol
Horns honking, flags brandished, improvised dances: Friday evening, the Moroccan streets took on the air of national celebration. For many, this UN decision marks a historic turning point, a few days before the fiftieth anniversary of the Green March – a strong symbol of the sovereignty claimed over the territory.
A political turning point for Rabat
King Mohammed VI welcomed “a decisive turning point” and called for “a constructive dialogue” with Algeria to overcome the persistent differences between the two countries. In fact, the Security Council resolution states, in the conditional tense, that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could constitute the most feasible solution to the five-decade-old conflict.
International reactions and hope of détente
The United States expressed its wish to reach an agreement between Rabat and Algiers “within sixty days”, while several European chancelleries welcomed a balanced resolution likely to relaunch political discussions.
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