Omar Hilal: Morocco Reinforces Its Reality on the Sahara Issue… Autonomy is the Only Solution Before the United Nations
The permanent representative of Morocco to the United Nations, Ambassador Omar Hilal, affirmed that any resolution to the issue of Moroccan Sahara can only occur within the framework of the Kingdom’s vision and national constants. He emphasized that the autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco in 2007 remains the only realistic and practical option before the United Nations and the international community.
In an interview with Al-Ghad TV, Hilal described UN Resolution 2797 as “a significant diplomatic victory for Morocco,” explaining that it reflects the fruits of the calm and constructive policy led by King Mohammed VI on the international stage, through broadening alliances and solidifying the principle of realism in dealing with this issue.
He added that the UN resolution clearly referenced the autonomy initiative as the frame of reference for any future negotiations, stressing that the option of a referendum has been outdated for years and that any proposals outside this path lack legal and political foundation.
Hilal noted that more than 120 countries worldwide, including major powers in the Security Council, support the Moroccan proposition, considering autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as a fair and lasting solution to the conflict. He reiterated that the only document recognized by the United Nations is the Moroccan initiative, contrasting it with the absence of any alternative proposals for half a century.
Regarding American support, he clarified that Washington backs this direction within the framework of a diplomatic accumulation led by Morocco over the years, highlighting that the Kingdom has established the political groundwork that has made the international position today clearer and more consistent with realism.
Hilal also pointed out that the recent resolution limited the parties involved in the conflict to Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front, affirming that Morocco is open to a rapid and acceptable negotiated solution while continuing to develop the southern regions and enhance infrastructure and social services there, stating, “Morocco is in its Sahara, and the Sahara is in Morocco.”
He did not miss the opportunity to emphasize Rabat’s readiness for dialogue with Algeria in a spirit of brotherhood and responsibility, urging the international community to act to end the suffering of the residents of the Tindouf camps and ensure their return to their homeland in dignity.
Concluding his remarks, the Moroccan ambassador stressed that his country will remain committed to its national constants: sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national symbols, explaining that other details can be discussed within the framework of the autonomy initiative, which he views as the bridge to a lasting and realistic solution to the conflict.
