Moroccan Sahara: King of Morocco chairs a strategic meeting to prepare for the post-MINURSO

HIS Majesty King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, chaired, on 4 November 2026, at the Royal Palace of Rabat, a working session devoted to the preparation of the next stage, following the decision of the UN Security Council, taken on 30 October, not to renew the mandate of the United Nations mission in the Sahara.

This meeting reflects the constant attention that the Sovereign pays to the question of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom and to the defence of its national sovereignty. It also reflects Morocco’s desire to anticipate the evolutions of the Moroccan Sahara file and to approach this new phase with responsibility, determination and strategic vision.

This meeting was attended by the Head of Government, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, the King’s Counsellor, Mr. Fouad Ali El Himma, Minister of the Interior, Mr. Abdelouafi Laftit, along with Army General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces and commanding the Southern Zone.

On this occasion, the Sovereign recalled the priorities defined in the communiqué of the Royal Cabinet of 30 October, including the preservation of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom, the protection of its national security and the guarantee of the tranquility of its citizens, especially those of the southern provinces.

The King has also given his High Instructions to ensure the rigorous implementation of these guidelines, each within the framework of his responsibilities. The objective is to consolidate the national consensus, to continue the development momentum of the southern provinces and to maintain close monitoring of all developments in the file, at the national and international levels, in accordance with the official position of the Kingdom.

The Sovereign also reaffirmed Morocco’s unwavering commitment to the ceasefire, stressing that this commitment remains unchanged despite the end of the mandate of the UN mission. In particular, he noted the limits of this mission in monitoring compliance with the ceasefire and monitoring violations, while recalling that the circumstances presiding over its creation and the functions initially assigned have largely evolved in the light of the current realities and the positions of international actors.

In the context of the preparation of this new stage, and in accordance with the Kingdom’s desire to continue its cooperation with the United Nations in a spirit of responsibility, the King has ordered that the coordination Office with MINURSO, under the Ministry of the Interior, now carry out the coordination and support missions related to the process of liquidation and withdrawal of the UN mission. This device will have to facilitate the various operations and ensure their progress under orderly and controlled conditions.

Finally, His Majesty reiterated Morocco’s commitment to its international commitments and to the principles of its diplomacy, based on the preservation of peace, international cooperation and the contribution to regional stability, without ever giving up national sovereignty.

The Sovereign has also highlighted the diplomatic advances made by the Kingdom in recent years, including the recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara by several friendly and brotherly countries. The latter consider the Moroccan initiative of autonomy as the only credible and viable political solution to achieve a definitive settlement of this regional dispute.

This meeting thus marks a new stage in the Moroccan approach to the Sahara file, with the desire to combine firmness on the principles of sovereignty, continuity of development of the provinces of the South and responsible cooperation with the international community.