The UN's recent backing of Morocco has raised fears of renewed conflict over Africa's longest-running territorial dispute, dating back to 1975. Roughly the size of Britain and rich in minerals, Western Sahara is home to many Sahrawis who continue to long for independence.

The United Nations Security Council has passed a US-drafted resolution supporting Morocco's claim over Western Sahara, a territory rich in mineral resources and subject to a long-standing dispute since Spain's withdrawal in 1975. The resolution, which does not mention independence as an option, instead proposes autonomy under Moroccan rule.

The decision was met with celebration in Morocco but strong opposition from Sahrawi people and their supporters, including Russia, China, and Algeria, who either abstained or did not participate in the vote. The Polisario Front, representing many Sahrawis, has stated it will not join peace negotiations that legitimize Moroccan control over the territory.

UN backing of Morocco's claim to Western Sahara draws ire

Moroccans celebrated late into the night after the UN Security Council adopted a US-penned resolution backing Morocco's claims over Western Sahara. About the size of Britain, the desert territory is subject to the continent's longest territorial dispute, going back to 1975, where colonial power Spain left. Today Morocco controls nearly all of Western Sahara, that is rich in mineral resources. An indescribable feeling, we're so happy, praise be to God, after 50 years we have remained loyal soldiers behind his majesty, the Sahara is Moroccan and will always remain Moroccan. But not if you ask these people, Sahrawis, native to Western Sahara, but living in Nigerian refugee camps since 1975. It's the majority voice of the Sahrawi people, the voice of resistance, the voice of rejection of the occupation and the voice of wanting to return to a free Sahara. Many are not happy with the UN resolution. I believe that the only thing we can do is to speak up for ourselves. The UN resolution does not mention independence as an option for Western Sahara, but a decree of autonomy under Moroccan rule. We have 11 votes in favor, zero votes against and three abstentions. One member of the council did not participate in the voting. Russia and China, allies of the Polisario Front, abstained, while its main backer, Algeria, did not participate. By this absence and in full responsibility, Algeria wished to illustrate the distance that we put between us and a text that does not faithfully reflect, does not sufficiently reflect the UN doctrine with regard to decolonization. The Polisario Front later said it would not participate in peace negotiations legitimizing what they see as a legal Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara.

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Paris

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London

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New York

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Jerusalem

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Breakdown