UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted,in his latest report to the Security Council on the Sahara,the scope of the major socio-economic development efforts underway in the Southern Provinces for the benefit of local populations.
The Secretary-General mentioned strategic infrastructure projects such as highways,ports,and airports,as well as projects in renewable energy,electricity,education,and health,and other social sectors.
Guterres also referred to the results of the census conducted by the Moroccan authorities in September 2024,which revealed an important increase in the population living in the Kingdom’s Southern Provinces,from 450,000 to 600,000 inhabitants,compared to 2014. This significant indicator is illustrative of the attractiveness and quality of life in these Provinces,which are conducive to the settlement of a larger number of people,as well as the increase in the birth rate.
The UN Secretary-General also highlighted the organization of diplomatic,cultural,and sport events in the Sahara,which symbolize the influence that the Southern Provinces enjoy at the national and international levels.
These major references are a continually renewed sign of the Secretary-General’s positive regard for the development efforts initiated by Morocco,in accordance with the vision of Mohammed VI,and as enshrined in the new development model for the Southern Provinces.
It is also the UN Secretary-General’s scathing response to the fallacious lies spread by Morocco’s adversaries regarding the alleged exploitation of natural resources,the lack of benefit for the region’s population,and the existence of a so-called war in the Moroccan Sahara.
At the same time,Guterres repeatedly referred to the dramatic situation in the Tindouf camps in Algeria,as well as the poverty and precariousness suffered by the sequestered populations,who remain deprived of their basic rights.
In his report,Antonio Guterres also called out the polisario for its systematic and ongoing violations of the ceasefire,while providing supporting evidence.
Guterres described the circumstances of the polisario’s terrorist attack on November 9,2024,stating that “a shooting incident took place in the town of Al Mahbès,near an area hosting civilian commemorations of the 49th anniversary of the Green March,” with no “damage” to report.
He added that “on November 11,MINURSO conducted an investigation at the scene of the incident and observed debris from four rockets 800 meters from the local market,” leaving no shadow of doubt as to the terrorist nature of the polisario,whose objective was to attack civilians and population centers. The attack was neutralized by the bravery of the Royal Armed Forces.
In this regard,the UN Secretary-General recalled the letter addressed to him by the Permanent Representative of Morocco on November 12,in which he warned of the consequences of this attack and warned that the Kingdom “reserves the right to take all measures and actions it deems appropriate to put an end to these threats and aggressions targeting its […] territorial integrity […] in full compliance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations.”
The Secretary-General also denounced another attack by the separatist polisario group and recalled that “on June 28,2025,four rocket explosions occurred near the MINURSO team site in Smara,” specifying that “one of the explosions occurred approximately 200 meters from the team site.”
Furthermore,he indicated that “this incident is the closest to a MINURSO facility since the resumption of hostilities in 2020,” while noting that the armed separatist militia also fired four 122mm explosive rockets.
These actions demonstrate the irresponsibility and endangerment of UN personnel by the polisario,in violation of international law and Security Council resolutions,in particular Resolution 2589 (2021),which condemns attacks against peacekeepers and considers them war crimes.
Following this attack,the UN authorities contacted the separatist group,to hold it accountable while reaffirming “their call for a cessation of hostilities.”
The UN Secretary-General equally highlighted the content of the letter sent by the Royal Armed Forces to the relevant UN authorities,describing this act as “criminal and terrorist by the polisario militia.”
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