Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal for the Sahara Region: A Legal and Political Approach in Light of Security Council Resolution 2797

الملخص

This article aims to analyze the Kingdom of Morocco’s proposal for autonomy in the Sahara region as a realistic framework for resolving a long‑standing regional conflict, in light of Security Council Resolution 2797 (2025), which affirmed the seriousness and credibility of the Moroccan initiative. It begins from the conceptual and theoretical framework of the notion of autonomy and its forms — administrative, political, and federal — by presenting comparative models from successful international experiences and analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, in order to draw lessons that may be applied in the Moroccan context. The study shows that the Moroccan proposal is based on the principle of internal self‑determination within the framework of respect for the unity and sovereignty of the state, in a manner consistent with the principles of public international law. It concludes that autonomy, as formulated by Morocco, represents the most effective, realistic, and politically viable solution for settling the dispute and constitutes an advanced Arab and African model for managing territorial diversity within a unitary state. Implementing this proposal through a gradual and consensual approach can transform the Sahara region from a hotspot of conflict into a space of stability and regional development that serves peace and security in North Africa.