Bourita: The Russian veto did not surprise Morocco and the end of the MINURSO mission is an opportunity to review the rules of the file

According to what was published by the website of Parliament.com, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad, Nasser Bourita, revealed in a special episode of a program broadcast by Channel 2 on Saturday evening, October 31, 2026, the details of the transformation of the Moroccan Sahara file following the developments in the UN Security Council.

Bourita explained that Russia's veto of the US draft resolution was not surprising to Morocco, because Moscow informed Rabat of its direction before the vote. He added that Morocco had two options: either to amend the decision and make concessions to pass it, or to consider the development as an opportunity to reconsider the rules within which the file continued to move, and Rabat chose the second option. He stated that he met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov with royal instructions, noting that Morocco did not seek to persuade Moscow to back down from its position.

On 30 October, the Security Council witnessed two votes. The US draft resolution won the support of 11 members, against Russia's opposition and the abstention of China, Pakistan and Somalia. before it was toppled by a Russian veto. The draft included removing the reference to the referendum from the name of the mission, reviewing its military component, and making the autonomy initiative under Moroccan sovereignty the basis of the negotiating process. As for the Russian counter-project, which calls for the extension of the mandate for an additional year, it received only three votes, to end the mandate of MINURSO on October 31, 2026 without renewal.

Regarding the mission, Bourita noted that it was established in 1991 in the context of settlement and ceasefire agreements. and that the context in which it was created no longer exists. He also stopped at the letter "R" in its name, considering it a referral to the referendum, and when there are 43 military observers east of the security wall distributed in six centers. He explained that the end of the mandate does not mean the expulsion of the mission, as the Kingdom will provide the logistical conditions to end its presence in an orderly manner, while respecting its workers.

The Minister stressed that the ceasefire agreement remains a stand-alone commitment, and that the end of the MINURSO mission does not mean its end. He also pointed out that the periodic meetings of the Security Council on the Sahara were related to the renewal of the mandate, but the Council retains its general powers in the maintenance of international peace and security, and can include the issue when developments so require. With regard to the Tindouf camps, he spoke about the humanitarian situation there, and called for raising the issue of the legal status and counting of the population in the international debate.

Bourita concluded that Morocco does not oppose the continuation of the political process under the supervision of the United Nations, but demands that its foundations, parties and expected outcome be determined. Considering the autonomy initiative under Moroccan sovereignty as the basis for a political solution.

Source: Parliament.com - https://barlamane.com/ %d 9% 86% d8% a7% d8% b1- %d 8% a8% d9% 88% d8% b1% d9% 8a %d 8% b7% d8% a9- %d 9% 81% d9% 8a- %d 8% a8% d8% b1% d9% 86% d8% a7% d9% 85% d8% ac- %d 8% ae %d 8% a7% d8% b5- %d 9% 84% d9% 84% d9% 82% d9% 86% d8% a7% d8% a9- %d8% a7% d9% 84% d8% ab/