UN urged to adopt pragmatic doctrine on Sahara, say Moroccan researchers

A newly released policy brief by two Moroccan scholars examines the evolving stance of the United Nations on the Sahara conflict, in light of recent diplomatic momentum. 

Central to their analysis is the reaffirmed U.S. support for Morocco’s autonomy plan, which they argue has expanded global consensus around a practical resolution.

Published by the Policy Center for the New South, the paper notes that while there are encouraging signs within the UN Security Council, the broader UN-led process remains stalled, largely due to persistent divisions among member states and the stagnation of the MINURSO mission.

Co-authors Fadwa Amrani, professor of international law at Hassan II University in Casablanca, and Reda Lyammouri, a senior fellow at the Center, call for a fundamental shift in the UN’s approach, toward what they term a “realistic and compromise-based doctrine.” 

They argue the UN must abandon its passive posture and explicitly support a political solution rooted in Moroccan sovereignty and autonomy.

Their argument  is structured around three core axes. The first addresses the gap between positive rhetoric in the UN and the lack of concrete progress, asking: “Hopeful signals or continued paralysis?”

 The second examines the “domino effect” of U.S. backing, which could pave the way for broader multilateral engagement. The third urges action over hesitation, proposing a revised UN doctrine anchored in realism and constructive engagement.

“This renewed U.S. backing came at a pivotal moment,” the authors write. “It has helped consolidate a wide international front around a realistic and consensus-driven solution, further isolating defenders of the status quo.”

They conclude that a new momentum is visible—reflected in the changing language of UN reports and growing member state mobilization. But for that to bear fruit, “the UN must recognize that there will be no resolution without autonomy. Prolonging ambiguity only delays the inevitable.”

They add that Morocco stands ready to cooperate fully under UN auspices. Its reconciliatory stance and autonomy initiative offer the international community a historic chance to resolve this protracted dispute and revive hope for stability across the region.