Less than twenty-four hours before the UN Security Council vote on the renewal of MINURSO’s mandate, the draft resolution promoted by the United States on Western Sahara has undergone a radical transformation. What began as a text tilted toward Morocco’s “autonomy” thesis has ended up—after intense diplomatic pressure—restoring the legal language that reaffirms the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and independence.
As revealed exclusively by ECSAHARAUI, Morocco has failed in its attempt to impose a “tailor-made” text and now finds itself virtually isolated, supported only by France.

---

A “linguistic and legal dismantling” of the U.S. draft

The Sahrawi news outlet based in New York reports that Draft Resolution No. 2050, presented by Washington on 14 October and officially circulated on the 22nd, became the subject of intense debate at UN headquarters.
“Over the past week,” ECSAHARAUI explains, “the text was subjected to a linguistic and legal dismantling, with changes affecting 80 percent of its original content.”

The first version, drafted under the influence of Rabat’s allies, described the Moroccan autonomy plan as “the only and principal solution” to the conflict. However, objections from several Council members—including Russia, Algeria, and China—forced a thorough rewrite.
The outlet notes that this is “the first time a draft prepared by Washington has been modified four consecutive times without reaching consensus on its final version,” reflecting the international community’s resistance to accepting a biased text.

---

Key changes: “autonomy” removed, “self-determination” restored

Among the most significant amendments, ECSAHARAUI points to the complete removal of the phrase “autonomy as the basis of the only possible settlement” and the re-insertion of a paragraph supporting “a political solution that guarantees the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.”
An explicit reference was also added to respect for the ceasefire and to the need to avoid any violation of the UN-supervised military agreements.

According to sources quoted by ECSAHARAUI, the revised text “urges the parties to resume negotiations without preconditions” and “warns of the consequences of any act that could threaten regional stability.”
The document also includes a call to strengthen humanitarian aid for Sahrawi refugees and to ensure adequate funding for the functioning of MINURSO.

---

Pressure from Russia, Algeria, and China isolates Washington and Rabat

According to the outlet, the United States came under pressure from Russia, Algeria, and China, which led the U.S. mission to submit reports on the consultation sessions to the White House, seeking a way out of “the silent crisis” surrounding the draft.
This situation, ECSAHARAUI adds, has revealed “the rejection by major powers of the pro-Moroccan approach inherited from the Trump era,” seen as an obstacle to peace and a source of regional instability.

The outlet’s sources further assert that, as of Tuesday 28 October, “the U.S. draft was supported only by Paris,” confirming the growing diplomatic isolation of the Makhzen within the Security Council.

---

A debate foreshadowing a tense Security Council vote

With the vote scheduled for Thursday 30 October, Draft Resolution 2050 still leaves open the clause concerning MINURSO’s mandate duration, pending further consultations.
However, the outcome of the negotiations already reflects a shift in the balance within the Council: the U.S. attempt to legitimize Morocco’s proposal has failed, and the final text once again includes the principle that Rabat has tried to erase from the diplomatic map for decades — the Sahrawi people’s right to freely decide their own future.

In ECSAHARAUI’s words, “the draft resolution, initially intended to consolidate the autonomy plan, has been transformed into a text that brings the Security Council back to its original framework: that of decolonization and the self-determination of the Sahrawi people.”

---

Source

ECSAHARAUI (29 October 2025)
📎 “Exclusive | Comprehensive briefing on the U.S. draft resolution; Moroccan failure to rally support.”
Translation and adaptation by No te olvides del Sáhara Occidental.