The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) decided on October 30 to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in the Sahara (MINURSO) for another year, thus confirming the pre-eminence of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan in resolving the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.
Resolution 2703, which was sponsored by the United States, affirms that the Security Council “has decided to extend MUNIRSO’s mandate until October 31, 2024.” This resolution was adopted with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions.
In this new resolution, the executive body of the United Nations (UN) reiterated its support for the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as a serious and credible basis for resolving the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, as enshrined in Security Council (SC) resolutions.
Council members also reiterated their support for the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) and his Personal Envoy for the Moroccan Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to advance the political process towards a realistic, pragmatic, lasting, and compromising solution.