Guterres’ Report Affirms the Realism of the Autonomy Initiative and Exposes the Polisario’s Isolation

By: Meryem Hafiani – ALDAR

The latest report by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, submitted to the UN Security Council, has once again shed light on the profound shifts taking place in the Moroccan Sahara file. The report confirms that the autonomy initiative under Moroccan sovereignty is no longer just a proposal on the table, but has become the only viable option in light of the deadlock of all other pathways—chief among them the referendum option, which has been definitively relegated to the past.

This report represents a turning point, reflecting the growing international consensus around the soundness of the Moroccan proposal. Support is no longer limited to traditional powers such as France and the United Kingdom; it is now gradually expanding to include an increasing number of influential states, at a time when the separatist thesis is failing to convince international public opinion of its relevance or feasibility.

However, the UN Secretary-General did not hide his deep concern over the Polisario Front’s persistence in pursuing escalation through armed actions, which he described as “blatant hostile acts.” He warned that the continuation of such provocations could drag the region into new tensions that threaten security and stability.

On the humanitarian level, Guterres highlighted the dire situation in the Tindouf camps, noting the reduction of humanitarian aid and the worsening conditions of fragility and malnutrition—factors that increase the suffering of thousands of people held there in the absence of lasting solutions. Algeria, for its part, attempts to fill the gap with temporary financial injections, but these remain stopgap measures that fail to address the root of an ever-deepening humanitarian crisis.

The Secretary-General’s report places the international community before a new reality: Morocco continues to gain recognition for its initiative as a serious and realistic option, while the Polisario’s leverage shrinks amid mounting isolation. At the same time, the urgent need grows for a political settlement that ensures regional stability and puts an end to the long-standing humanitarian tragedy in Tindouf.