Bulletin N°61 2025 Interview with Mohamed Ali Zerouali; representative of the Polisario Front in France
Question 1:
The UN has just passed a resolution concerning Western Sahara. According to the media, it appears to support the Moroccan plan, which is nothing less than a straightforward annexation that disregards the recognized rights of the Sahrawi people. What is the truth of the matter?
MA Zerouali
On October 31, 2025, the Security Council adopted resolution 2797 (2025), extending the mandate of MINURSO until October 31, 2026. This decision does not alter the nature or mission of MINURSO, established in 1991 to organize a referendum on self-determination enabling the Sahrawi people to freely choose their future. The resolution mentions the Moroccan autonomy proposal, but without recognizing, legitimizing, or imposing it as a solution. It is a formal reference, without normative value, which does not commit either party to consider it as the exclusive option. The text reaffirms the fundamental principle of the right to self-determination, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 1514, and simply extends the UN mission, postponing any major political decision until 2026. In other words, the Council did not decide on the substance of the conflict, but maintained the status quo by extending the mandate of MINURSO.
Question 2:
If, as you explain, this resolution is not what the media are reporting, then it does give the Sahrawi people room to maneuver in their struggle for national liberation. What is the Polisario Front's position regarding this resolution?
MA Zerouali
The Polisario Front reaffirms its inalienable commitment to the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and independence, as enshrined in international law.
However, we believe that certain elements of this resolution deviate dangerously from the founding principles of the UN decolonization process. By failing to firmly reiterate the legal framework of the conflict—that of a non-self-governing territory awaiting decolonization—the resolution risks undermining the credibility and coherence of the UN-sponsored peace process.
The Polisario Front remains fully willing to cooperate constructively with UN efforts, but refuses to participate in any process that seeks to legitimize the Moroccan occupation or to deny the Sahrawi people their inalienable right to self-determination.
Question 3:
To date, despite numerous UN resolutions supporting the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination, no pressure has been exerted on Morocco to compel it to respect them. Why is this the case?
MA Zerouali
It must be acknowledged that major powers have often used the United Nations to serve their own geopolitical interests. Morocco has been able to capitalize on these power dynamics, benefiting from the political and diplomatic support of certain influential members of the Security Council.
Furthermore, by normalizing its relations with Israel, Morocco has tied its diplomatic fate to that of Washington and Paris, accepting political and moral compromises in exchange for support on the international stage. This mutual dependence has diminished the actual willingness of these powers to exert effective pressure on Morocco.
The Moroccan regime also employs a communication and propaganda strategy aimed at presenting supposed diplomatic successes, when these are often merely empty promises. This contributes to weakening the perception of the conflict and delaying the concrete measures necessary for its resolution.
Ultimately, the resolutions, without the political will to implement them, remain ineffective texts, and the decolonization process of Western Sahara continues to stagnate.
Question 4:
In this affair, the United States and Western powers, including France, support the Moroccan regime in its annexation efforts. Is this related to the fact that Morocco is an ally of Israel in its desire to eliminate the Palestinian resistance?
MA Zerouali
There is indeed a direct link between the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel and the increased support that certain Western powers, notably the United States and France, give to Morocco.
As part of this normalization, Morocco has made significant political concessions to Washington and Paris in order to obtain diplomatic favors, particularly on the Western Sahara issue.
This rapprochement is part of a broader regional trend, in which Morocco aligns its foreign policy with that of Israel and its allies, to the detriment of its historical solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Thus, Western support for Morocco is not disconnected from this dynamic: it reflects a convergence of geopolitical interests which, unfortunately, comes at the expense of international law and the principles of decolonization.
Thus, Western support for Morocco is not disconnected from this dynamic: it reflects a convergence of geopolitical interests which, unfortunately, comes at the expense of international law and the principles of decolonization.