Security Council Resolution 2703: Same old, same old

Adoption by UN Security Council on October 27, 2023 of resolution 2703 (2023) on the question of the Moroccan Sahara took place amidst a regional context of persistent tension between Morocco and Algeria, and repeated ceasefire violations by the Polisario, culminating in unprecedented escalation on the night of October 28-29, targeting the town of Smara, and leading to casualties. The new resolution was passed when international attention focused on the tragic events in Gaza, overshadowing the war in Ukraine. This twofold context prompted the Council to renew the same resolution, despite attempts by the Russia and Mozambique delegations to introduce amendments aimed at removing references to compromise, realism and pragmatism, and to include a human rights monitoring component in MINURSO's mandate. The new text thus confirms the pre-eminence of Morocco's autonomy proposal, the merits of a political settlement based on compromise, the importance of conducting a census of the population of Tindouf, and the value of round-table discussions in relaunching the negotiation process.