The United Nations has adopted the final version of Secretary-General António Guterres’s report on the Moroccan Sahara without making any radical changes. The report includes a recommendation to extend the mandate of the MINURSO mission for an additional year, until October 31, 2027, while warning that the absence of the mission would lead to a sharp increase in the risk of escalating hostilities, given ongoing on-the-ground tensions and the stalled political settlement of the conflict.

The report stressed the necessity of leveraging the resumption of direct dialogue between Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front—supported by the United States and other member states—to push toward a mutually acceptable political solution. It highlighted that negotiations should explore the possibility of granting the population of the Sahara genuine autonomy as one of the most viable solutions, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2797 issued in 2025.

Guterres called on the parties to cease hostilities and refrain from any actions that could erode trust or impede the political process. He reaffirmed the ongoing role played by MINURSO in monitoring, investigating, and reporting incidents, as well as liaising with the parties to contain tensions and prevent the expansion of confrontations.

Conversely, the report noted the persistence of logistical and financial challenges affecting the mission’s operations, including a decline in the number of deployed military observers to 153 out of the authorized 218. This has led to a reduction in ground patrols, demining activities, and air capabilities, at a time when the Secretary-General warned of the implications of continued hostilities on regional security and stability.