The UN document confirms that the autonomy plan now forms the central basis for direct discussions.
Developments in the regional issue within the United Nations have reached a decisive diplomatic milestone with the publication of a reference document. Dated 1 October 2026 and registered under the reference S/2026/781, the annual report by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, is the first official assessment drawn up since the historic adoption of Security Council Resolution 2797 on 31 October 2025, a landmark text that enshrined the Moroccan autonomy initiative at the heart of the political process. This document confirms the consolidation of an unprecedented diplomatic momentum by revealing that three rounds of direct talks took place during the first quarter of 2026. These meetings brought Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria and Mauritania together around the same table under the joint co-chairmanship of the Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, and the United States. During the first round, held in Washington on 18 and 19 January, followed by a second round in Madrid on 8 and 9 February, the national delegation presented a detailed draft autonomy statute, building on its 2007 initiative to serve as an operational basis for the discussions.
Institutional and human development at the heart of the discussions
In his analysis, the Secretary-General emphasises that genuine autonomy represents the most feasible outcome and urges all stakeholders to pursue concerted negotiations in good faith. The work carried out during these sessions made it possible to address in concrete terms the institutional framework of a future political solution, covering essential aspects such as the establishment of a transitional council, international guarantees, resource-sharing mechanisms, security arrangements, amnesty and reconciliation procedures, and the organisation of electoral systems. Alongside the institutional aspects, the report highlights confidence-building measures with a strong human dimension, notably the organisation of individual and voluntary visits enabling Sahrawi refugees in the Tindouf camps to be reunited with their relatives in Laâyoune and Dakhla, whilst recommending the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara until 31 October 2027.
Implications for regional stability and the development of the southern provinces
Although no definitive agreement has yet been formalised, the clear narrowing of the scope of negotiations around the solution of autonomy under national sovereignty offers greater clarity for the region’s future. This diplomatic clarification bolsters the confidence of national and international investors involved in the roll-out of major infrastructure, renewable energy and blue economy projects in the Southern Provinces. By fostering a climate of predictability and lasting stability, this progress consolidates regional economic integration, stimulates the creation of skilled jobs for local young people and confirms the Kingdom’s leading role as a hub of stability and development in Africa.
