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France and the UK have criticised Russia after Moscow used its veto power at the UN Security Council to block a U.S. sponsored draft resolution on Western Sahara.
The proposed measure sought to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) while aligning its role with negotiations based on Morocco’s autonomy plan.
Although the proposal received 11 votes in favour, Russia’s opposition prevented its adoption.
As reported by Morocco World News “France strongly criticized Russia’s decision, describing the veto as a setback for efforts to advance the political process.”
Explaining France’s position, its representative stated that “France’s position is well known. France considers that the question of Western Sahara is part of Moroccan sovereignty and is based on the Moroccan plan“.
Morocco World News reported that “The United Kingdom also expressed strong disappointment, warning that Russia’s veto could undermine the Council’s efforts, jeopardize the deployment of the UN mission, and set back progress towards a political solution.”
The British representative reaffirmed London’s support for Morocco’s proposal, declaring, “We reiterate our position that Morocco’s 2007 autonomy proposal is the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute“.
Other countries also backed the American draft, including Liberia, whose representative defended the need for a clear direction in negotiations, emphasising that “clarity is not the abandonment of diplomacy” but rather “what gives diplomacy direction”.
Palestine had no vote in the Western Sahara debate because it is not one of the 15 members of the UN Security Council.
However, its continued exclusion from full UN membership is linked to Washington’s veto of its membership bid in April 2024, despite 12 Security Council members supporting its admission and 143 countries backing its eligibility in a subsequent General Assembly vote.
Defending Washington’s decision, the US representative stated that “our vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian Statehood“, maintaining that statehood “will come only through a process that involves direct negotiations between the parties“.
China criticised the American veto, with its representative noting that “Palestine’s application for full UN Membership was mercilessly vetoed by the United States“.
Israel also strongly opposed the General Assembly resolution, with its representative asserting that “with today’s vote, you’re totally bypassing the Security Council in violation of the Charter“.
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