Morocco seeks to remove Western Sahara from UN list of non-self-governing territories

Following developments at the Security Council, Rabat has launched a diplomatic push to remove Western Sahara from the list of non-self-governing territories, a status it has held since 1963. Since the UN does not recognize Morocco as the administering power, Rabat is attempting to leverage bilateral support for its autonomy plan into a multilateral majority within the UN General Assembly. This effort targets the Fourth Committee and the Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24), with support from countries like the U.S., France, and Israel. However, the plan faces significant legal and political hurdles, as the autonomy proposal lacks the required popular consultation for self-determination. Furthermore, Morocco's own vote in October 2026 supporting a resolution that reaffirms the UN's decolonization process complicates its current push. Morocco must also contend with the counter-mobilization of Algeria, the Polisario Front, and nations committed to the principles of self-determination, as the final decision remains with the General Assembly.