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The UN Security Council adopted this Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 3 p.m. New York time, draft resolution Res.2756/2024 proposed by the penholder American and which extends the mandate of Minurso by one year. The text was adopted by:
- 12 votes for.
- 2 abstentions (including Russia).
- zero against.
- Algeria did not take part in the vote.
An extremely rare fact in this case, even unprecedented, Algeria took advantage of its seat as a member of the council (2024 et 2025), to propose two amendments supposed to defend human rights. These two amendments were rejected. Russia did not vote for them.
The two amendments were discussed before the resolution as provided for in the Council’s rules of procedure. Since a proposed amendment goes to substance, it is subject to veto. In other words, Algeria proposed two amendments which it knew in advance would not be adopted.
Based on the draft which was proposed by the Americans and to which we have already devoted an article, the text of the resolution is almost identical to those of the previous years 2021, 2022 and 2023. The round table process is highlighted as well as the search for a mutually acceptable political solution based on compromise.
In reality, for the fourth consecutive year, the Security Council essentially notes the impasse and blockage in which the file finds itself. And for this, he insists on the “political, pragmatic, sustainable and compromise-based” solution. The objective of the political process is thus clearly indicated.
As way to achieve thishe recalled the round table process, indicating that it was necessary to build on this achievement.
He welcomes the Moroccan autonomy plan and mentions the recent momentum. He designates the protagonists. Algeria is mentioned 5 times, almost as many as Morocco (6 times).
The only notable change at this stage of the consultations is this sentence from the preamble: “Considering that the status quo is not acceptableurging avoid any act likely to jeopardize the political process and further noting thatit is essential that the negotiations progress so that the quality of life of the inhabitants of Western Sahara improves in all areas.
Political blockage
Algeria has put all its weight into slowing down the UN process focused on the search for a lasting, mutually acceptable political solution based on compromise. A process marked by two round tables already organized in 2018 and 2019 by the personal envoy of the UN Secretary General, Hörst Kohler.
Not only did Algeria not manage to curb UN support for this process, but in addition, this process received, this Thursday, October 31, 2024, even more support from the Security Council.
The Security Council is composed of:
– Five permanent members : United States, Russia, China, Great Britain, France.
– Ten other members elected for two-year terms : Ecuador, Guyana, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Switzerland, Algeria.
Heated negotiations
“The negotiations on the draft resolution were heated,” reports the securitycouncilreport platform. “The United States circulated a first draft of the text on October 22 and convened a first round of negotiations the following day (October 23). Subsequently, some members submitted written comments. Although the drafter apparently had intending to continue with the original draft unchanged, he nevertheless scheduled a new round of negotiations for Monday (October 28).”
“(…) Over the past few days, both parties [Algérie et Etats-Unis] engaged in in-depth deliberations, including at high levels, to identify and consider possible solutions to the impasse. The discussions resulted in the United States submitting a revised draft text and placing it directly in blue yesterday (October 30). “It appears that Algeria still feels that its concerns have not been addressed, prompting the member to place its own draft amendments in blue.”
According to the same source, “during the single round of negotiations, it appears that several members of the Council, including the France and the Senegal, supported the drafter’s approach and called for keeping the draft resolution as is, while other members suggested modifications. Algeria and Russia apparently considered the draft text unbalanced and proposed several revisions.”
“The drafter requested a pure and simple renewal of the mandate of MINURSO, without making substantial modifications to the provisions contained in resolution 2703 of October 30, 2023, which recently extended the mandate of the mission,” confirms this source. The United States incorporated new elements into the initial draft text reflecting recent developments. One of these changes was to introduce a new preamble paragraph “ welcoming the recent momentum and urging continued momentum to achieve a mutually acceptable political solution»”.
Here is the full text of the resolution voted on Thursday October 31, 2024:
Sahara: the draft resolution submitted to the Security Council for a vote on Monday without significant novelty
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