UN Security Council renewed peacekeeping mission’s mandate for one year, while Morocco and pro-independence Polisario Front continued to seek diplomatic support for their respective positions.

UN Security Council called for revival of UN-led peace process. UN Security Council 27 Oct extended mandate of UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 Oct 2023; resolution, adopted by 13 votes in favour with Russia and Kenya abstaining, renewed call on Morocco and Polisario Front to “resume negotiations” to allow for “lasting and mutually acceptable” solution, and expressed “deep concern” at breakdown of 1991 ceasefire. Ahead of vote, UN Sec-Gen António Guterres 3 Oct released annual report on situation in Western Sahara, noting that low-intensity military clashes between Moroccan military and Polisario Front continued, Morocco conducted airstrikes in Western Sahara, and Polisario Front imposed limits to MINURSO’s operations east of the sand berm.

Diplomatic battle over Western Sahara continued. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa 18 Oct hosted Polisario Front leader and Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic President Brahim Ghali and reaffirmed his position in favour of Western Sahara’s right to self-determination. During visit to Morocco, Belgian FM Hadja Lahbib 20 Oct reiterated Belgium’s support for UN-led process and said Rabat’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara was “good basis” for final settlement of dispute.

UN envoy continued regional tour, and confusion emerged over Kenya and Spain’s positions on contested territory.

Envoy for Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura 3-4 Sept met with Polisario Front independence movement leader, Brahim Ghali, and Polisario’s UN representative, Sidi Mohamed Omar, in Algeria’s Tindouf province to discuss current state of Western Sahara conflict between Polisario and Morocco ahead of UN Security Council meeting on Western Sahara in October. Kenya’s new President William Ruto 14 Sept announced via Twitter decision to withdraw his country’s recognition of contested Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) before deleting tweet few hours later. Kenyan FM Macharia Kamau 16 Sept clarified in internal note that country’s position remained unchanged. Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez 22 Sept said Spain supported “mutually acceptable political solution” regarding disputed territory; declaration partly contradicts Madrid’s endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara in March.

Diplomatic row erupted between Morocco and Tunisia over Western Sahara; UN warned of serious food insecurity in Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria. Moroccan King Mohammed VI 20 Aug called on international partners to offer “unequivocal” support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, suggesting friendship with Rabat will be measured by diplomatic stand on dispute. Polisario Front independence movement 22 Aug responded Western Sahara’s status is “clearly and explicitly defined” as country “separate and distinct” from Morocco. Morocco 26 Aug recalled ambassador to Tunisia hours after Tunisian President Saïed met with Polisario leader and Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic President Brahim Ghali in Tunis ahead of development conference; Tunisian govt next day recalled ambassador to Rabat for consultations, reaffirmed Tunisia’s “neutrality over Western Sahara issue”. UN team in Algeria 24 Aug warned Sahrawi refugees in Algeria’s Tindouf province at risk of serious food insecurity and malnutrition after funding gaps forced World Food Programme to cut food rations in camps by 75%.

UN envoy cancelled visit to Western Sahara after Rabat reportedly tried to impose restrictions. Polisario Front independence movement 4 July denounced Morocco’s “obstructionism” after UN envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, called off plans to visit Western Sahara as part of his early July trip to Morocco. Local media outlets reported de Mistura’s decision came after Rabat objected to his initial schedule and tried to impose strict limits to his interlocutors and meetings in Western Sahara.

Relations between Algeria and Spain continued to deteriorate over Western Sahara, while civil society groups mobilised against Moroccan repression of Sahrawi activists. Algeria 8 June announced suspension of 2002 friendship and cooperation treaty with Madrid, and next day froze bilateral trade operations, citing Spain’s endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell 10 June warned suspension of trade operations might violate EU-Algeria partnership agreement and lead to “retaliatory measures” (see Algeria). Meanwhile, group of NGOs and lawyers 9 June filed several complaints against Morocco with UN Committee Against Torture, denouncing mistreatment and alleged torture of four Sahrawi activists currently in prison in Morocco.

Morocco continued to secure greater international support for its Western Sahara autonomy plan. Polisario Front independence movement representative to Spain, Abdullah Arabi, 7 May called on Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez to “rectify” position on Western Sahara, claiming Madrid’s endorsement in March of Rabat’s autonomy plan for disputed territory leads Spain “away from international legality”. Meanwhile, Rabat and Madrid continued to mend ties, notably reopening land borders between Morocco and Spain’s enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla mid-May. Dutch govt 11 May expressed support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, calling it “serious and credible contribution” to the UN-led political process to resolve Western Sahara dispute. Turkish govt also 11 May stated support for Morocco’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity”; next day, however, said support only extends to “internationally recognised borders”.

Moroccan drone attacks reportedly killed three near Mauritanian border, and Polisario Front independence movement suspended relations with Spain in protest at Madrid’s rapprochement with Morocco. Algeria 12 April accused Morocco of killing three civilians in 10 April drone strikes in Polisario-held Western Sahara near Mauritanian border (see Algeria). After Spain in March endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, ending year-long diplomatic crisis between Madrid and Rabat, Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez 7 April met with King Mohamed VI of Morocco in Rabat; leaders announced roadmap to normalise relations. Polisario Front 9 April announced suspension of relations with Spain, citing Madrid’s “instrumentalisation of Sahrawi cause” for political and economic purposes. Meanwhile, UN Security Council 20 April held semi-annual closed-door meeting with UN Envoy for Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura; latter same day announced upcoming regional tour for new consultations with conflict parties.

In major policy shift, Spain endorsed Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara, raising tensions with Algeria. Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez 18 March publicly supported Moroccan autonomy plan for Western Sahara; move, which came after months of suspended diplomatic relations between Spain and Morocco, ends Madrid’s longstanding neutral stance on Western Sahara conflict. Algeria next day recalled ambassador to Spain for consultations, condemning Madrid’s “abrupt U-turn”. Earlier in month, Morocco 2 March avoided participating in UN General Assembly vote to condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine, while Algiers abstained; both countries keen to avoid antagonising Russia, which can play key role in Western Sahara conflict as veto-wielding permanent member of UN Security Council.

Military tensions remained high despite UN-led de-escalation efforts. Polisario Front independence movement 11 Feb said it had killed 12 Moroccan soldiers in series of operations first week of Feb; claim comes after several Moroccan airstrikes or drone attacks reportedly hit Polisario-held Western Sahara in late-Jan. UN Sec-Gen’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura 3 Feb met with U.S. Sec State Antony Blinken; Blinken reiterated U.S. support for UN political process for Western Sahara. Moroccan FM Nasser Bourita 14 Feb reaffirmed his country’s commitment to negotiations under UN auspices, insisted autonomy plan is only solution and said Algeria “party to the conflict”.

Recently-appointed UN envoy embarked on regional tour signalling renewed international effort to resolve Western Sahara conflict; several drone attacks reported during month. UN Sec-Gen’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura 12-19 Jan visited Maghreb region to try and relaunch negotiations on disputed territory. De Mistura met with Moroccan FM Nasser Bourita in Moroccan capital Rabat 13 Jan; Polisario Front independence movement leader Brahim Ghali in Sahrawi refugee camp in Algeria’s Tindouf province 16 Jan; Mauritanian President Ould Ghazouani in Mauritania’s capital Nouakchott next day; Algerian FM Ramtane Lamamra and Algerian envoy for Western Sahara and Maghreb countries Amar Belani in Algeria’s capital Algiers 19 Jan. Morocco and Algeria reaffirmed their position: Morocco stated its readiness to resume negotiations under so-called roundtable format, which includes Mauritania and Algeria, while Algeria called for direct negotiations. French newspaper La Croix reported Moroccan drone strike 3 Jan killed three Mauritanian civilians in UN buffer zone. Sources close to political force Sahrawi Movement for Peace mid-Jan reported drone attack killed four Polisario members in eastern Mehaires area in Polisario-held Western Sahara.