Morocco-Rabat: His Majesty King Mohammed VI chaired a landmark strategic working session at the Royal Palace in Rabat on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, dedicated to managing the post-MINURSO phase in the Moroccan Sahara, following the United Nations Security Council’s October 30, 2026 session in which the UN mission’s mandate was not renewed.
The Royal working session marks a decisive transition from diplomatic deliberation at the United Nations to direct sovereign, administrative, and operational implementation on the ground. Attending the session alongside the Sovereign were Head of Government Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, Royal Advisor Fouad Ali El Himma, Minister of the Interior Abdelouafi Laftit, and General Mohammed Berrid, Inspector General of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and Commander of the Southern Zone.
Interior Ministry Tasked with Orderly Liquidation and Withdrawal of MINURSO.
In a central operational directive, His Majesty the King issued High Instructions for the “MINURSO Coordination Office” under the Ministry of the Interior to oversee and facilitate the liquidation and orderly withdrawal of the United Nations mission. The Royal Palace communiqué emphasized that Morocco will accompany this wind-down process in a spirit of institutional responsibility and cooperation with the United Nations, ensuring all logistical and administrative procedures proceed smoothly.
The Royal Cabinet statement underscored that the historical context in which MINURSO was originally established – as well as the initial functions assigned to it – have been definitively superseded by realities on the ground and the evolving positions of major international powers. The communiqué also noted that the UN mission had, on numerous occasions, failed to effectively monitor compliance with the ceasefire or draw consequences from its violations.
Sovereign Ceasefire Commitment and Acceleration of Southern Provinces Development:
Despite the termination of the UN mission’s mandate, His Majesty King Mohammed VI reaffirmed Morocco’s full and voluntary sovereign commitment to the ceasefire, stressing that this commitment stems from the Kingdom’s diplomatic doctrine dedicated to preserving peace and regional stability while uncompromisingly safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
During the session, the Sovereign instructed the attending civil and military leaders – each within their respective sphere of competence – to firmly and vigilantly implement the priorities outlined in the October 30 Royal Palace communiqué. Foremost among these priorities are the total respect for the Kingdom’s territorial integrity, national security, the tranquility of citizens in the Southern Provinces, and the uninterrupted execution of the New Development Model for the Southern Provinces and its flagship infrastructure projects.
