Morocco has declared October 31 a national holiday, known as Unity Day, to celebrate the UN Security Council’s approval of its autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara region.
The UN resolution describes genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as the “most feasible solution” to the 50-year conflict. The holiday will commemorate Morocco’s “national unity and territorial integrity”.
The UN Security Council voted in favor of the resolution, with the US, UK, Spain, France, Germany, and the Netherlands supporting Morocco’s position. Russia, China, and Pakistan abstained, while Algeria opposed the resolution.
The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, has long contested Morocco’s claim to the region.
Western Sahara, a phosphate-rich territory, was under Spanish rule until 1975 and was later annexed by Morocco.
The African Union recognizes Western Sahara’s independence, but many countries have recently backed Morocco’s position.
A long-promised UN-brokered referendum on the region’s fate has never taken place due to disputes over voter eligibility.
