Recent sources close to the Polisario Front have released what they claim is an advanced version of the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' report regarding the situation in Western Sahara. The authenticity of this report was sought for verification through the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations, but no response was received. This report outlines significant developments and updates concerning the political process surrounding the ongoing conflict.
In his report, Guterres noted that the Polisario Front submitted a document to the Secretary-General on October 20, 2025, in response to the personal envoy's request for expanded positions and details from the involved parties. This document, titled "Proposed Resolution by the Polisario Front for a Mutually Acceptable Political Solution Ensuring the Right to Self-Determination for the People of Western Sahara and Restoring Regional Peace and Stability," elaborated further on the Polisario's 2007 proposal concerning "post-referendum guarantees." It was also shared with the members of the Security Council (S/2025/664) at their request.
Guterres reminded that Morocco prepared a "Draft Autonomy Statute" which included a detailed account of the autonomy proposal submitted in 2007. This document was shared with the personal envoy and the United States, as the co-chairs of the negotiations, as well as with participants from the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania in January 2026. However, it was not publicly disseminated, as it was intended explicitly as a basis for negotiations rather than a final agreement.
The report also referenced King Mohammed VI of Morocco's declaration of October 31 as "Unity Day," following the Security Council's adoption of resolution 2797 (2025). Guterres added that the first response from the Polisario Front regarding this resolution came in a statement on October 31, which positively highlighted that the resolution "invites both parties to engage in discussions without preconditions and keeps the door open for discussing all proposals in support of reaching a mutually acceptable final solution." At the same time, it emphasized that "some elements contained in the resolution represent a serious and unprecedented shift from the basis on which the Security Council has addressed the issue of Western Sahara, in accordance with the principles outlined in the United Nations Charter."
Guterres revealed that during a press conference on November 5, the personal envoy characterized resolution 2797 as "important" because it demonstrated renewed international momentum towards resolving the dispute. He welcomed the active participation of the United States as the penholder in the Security Council, noting that the resolution "provides a framework for negotiations without imposing a specific outcome," clarifying that "the outcome will be the result of negotiations conducted in good faith by the parties involved." He urged all parties to engage in renewed political negotiations, emphasizing that participating in negotiations does not automatically imply acceptance of their outcomes.
Furthermore, Guterres recalled the commencement of negotiations facilitated by the personal envoy, in cooperation with the United States, aiming to initiate direct negotiations with all relevant parties. Alongside the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Michael Walters, three rounds of discussions were held, with active support from the Senior Advisor to the U.S. President for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, and other senior U.S. officials. Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania were represented by their foreign ministers, while the Polisario Front was represented by a senior official in charge of its foreign policy.
The negotiations included deep discussions among participants seeking a fair, lasting, and mutually acceptable resolution to the conflict, adopting Morocco’s autonomy proposal as a basis for discussions in accordance with resolution 2797 (2025). Guterres noted the first round of negotiations took place in Washington, D.C., on January 18-19, 2026, during which Morocco presented an expanded version of its autonomy proposal from 2007, responding to comments and inquiries from other participants and co-chairs. Morocco expressed its readiness to work with the Polisario Front to negotiate a mutually acceptable solution and its implementation, aiming for a result that would be developed and co-owned by all parties involved in the dispute.
In this context, Guterres highlighted the second round of negotiations held in Madrid, Spain, on February 8-9, 2026, where participants discussed the establishment of a transitional council. This council’s role would not only encompass managing various transitional processes but also provide a framework to negotiate the details of a fair, lasting, and mutually acceptable solution. Extensive discussions were held regarding the roles of international stakeholders and guarantees for implementation, along with proposals concerning resource sharing, amnesty and reconciliation, disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration, security measures, and electoral systems. Mauritania emphasized the necessity of forming a committee to clarify the final and permanent international borders of the disputed territory in a consensual manner.
Guterres disclosed that, upon request from participants, both the United Nations and the United States teams collaborated during and after this round of negotiations to prepare a preliminary draft of a framework agreement for a potential transitional phase, alongside possible consensus positions regarding the aforementioned areas. The teams prepared several documents to be presented during the third round.
Commenting on the third round of negotiations held in Washington, D.C., on February 23-24, Guterres indicated that this session allowed for in-depth discussions regarding the transitional council and other elements presented by the United Nations and U.S. teams. The round also opened discussions on the issues of self-determination and sovereignty over the disputed territory, which remain among the most contentious elements in seeking a mutually acceptable solution. Due to significant differences in positions, the co-chairs decided that these matters should be addressed separately with the parties to identify possible solutions. Throughout the negotiations, the personal envoy emphasized that any proposal for autonomy for Western Sahara must meet the highest international standards and that the transition to genuine autonomy should be supported by strong international guarantees. Furthermore, any settlement of the dispute must include a meaningful consultation process with the Sahrawi people, in accordance with the principle of self-determination.
After these three high-level rounds of negotiations, Guterres confirmed that the personal envoy maintained regular contact with all parties involved, closely coordinating with the United States as the co-chair of the negotiations. This communication aimed to build consensus around a mutually acceptable political solution that guarantees the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination. In this context, the personal envoy met with the Polisario Front in Brussels on March 23, with Algeria on April 1, also in Brussels, and with Morocco on April 21 and 23 in New York. He also traveled to Tindouf to hold meetings with the leadership of the Polisario Front, including Secretary-General Ibrahim Ghali, on June 7 and 8. Subsequently, he met with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf in Algiers on June 15 and with the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, in Nouakchott on June 18.
Guterres noted that discussions included reaffirmations by the personal envoy's interlocutors of their commitment to the political process, emphasizing the historical significance of the progress made. They highlighted the need to give the consensus-building process a chance to succeed, acknowledging that the lack of trust, particularly between Morocco and the Polisario Front, represents a major obstacle to achieving a mutually acceptable and viable solution. In this regard, the personal envoy stressed the importance of taking short-term confidence-building initiatives and the necessity of providing strong international guarantees in the long term.
Furthermore, the personal envoy reviewed the areas where there is relative consensus and prepared a revised draft of a framework agreement concerning a transitional period. If adopted, this framework agreement could provide the foundation for negotiations on a detailed model of autonomy in Western Sahara, as well as for a meaningful consultation process with the Sahrawi people, thereby allowing for progress on this path.
Guterres recalled that the personal envoy presented updates to the Security Council according to resolutions 2703 (2023), 2756 (2024), and 2797 (2025), along with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Alexander Ivanko, during closed consultations on October 10, 2025, and April 23, 2026. In both instances, the personal envoy received broad support from Council members for his efforts. While in New York, the personal envoy met with senior UN officials, as well as representatives from Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, Mauritania, and other member states, including Security Council members.
Guterres noted the shift in positions of some countries regarding Western Sahara, recalling the support from Sweden and Switzerland for Morocco's autonomy plan as a credible basis for negotiations, while Mali and Honduras suspended their recognition of the Polisario Front. Bolivia followed suit in February 2026, and Madagascar, Canada, and Japan reaffirmed their support for Morocco's autonomy plan, with the European Union updating its collective position in January 2026 to indicate that negotiations should be based on Morocco's autonomy proposal.
In conclusion, Guterres highlighted the importance of these developments in the ongoing quest for a peaceful resolution to the Western Sahara conflict, emphasizing the necessity for all involved parties to engage in constructive dialogue aimed at achieving a long-lasting and mutually acceptable solution.
As reported by goud.ma.
