Hassan Naciri, Morocco's ambassador to the United Nations, stated on July 27, 2026, that the dispute over the Western Sahara is fundamentally geopolitical, not legal. Speaking to reporters in New York, he emphasized that the UN Security Council has consistently recognized Morocco's autonomy plan as a serious and credible solution since 2007.
Naciri noted that the UN-led political process, under the auspices of the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, aims to reach a mutually acceptable political solution. He reiterated Morocco's position that the Sahara is an integral part of its territory, a stance supported by over 100 UN member states that have opened consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla.
The ambassador highlighted that the dispute's geopolitical nature stems from regional rivalries and external interference, particularly from Algeria, which supports the Polisario Front. He called for a realistic approach based on the autonomy proposal, which he argued offers the only viable path to peace and stability in the Maghreb region.
