On the evening of Friday, October 31, King Mohammed VI addressed the nation following the historic vote by the Security Council in favor of a resolution that supports autonomy as a solution to the Sahara issue.
Below is the text of the royal speech:
“Praise be to God, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of God, his family, and his companions. God Almighty has said, ‘Indeed, We have granted you a clear victory.’
Dear people,
After fifty years of sacrifices, we are beginning, with God’s help, a new phase in solidifying Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and finally resolving this fabricated conflict through a consensual solution based on the autonomy initiative.
It is a point of pride that this historic transformation coincides with the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Green March and the seventieth anniversary of Morocco’s independence.
On this occasion, I am pleased to share with you today my satisfaction with the content of the recent Security Council resolution.
We are at a pivotal moment in the modern history of Morocco. There is a before October 31, 2025, and an after.
The time has come for a unified Morocco, from Tangier to Lagouira, where no one shall infringe upon its rights and historical boundaries.
Dear people, I indicated in a previous speech that we have moved in the case of our territorial integrity from management to change.
The momentum we have initiated in recent years is beginning to yield results on all fronts.
Two-thirds of United Nations member states now consider the autonomy initiative as the sole framework for resolving this dispute.
Moreover, recognition of the Kingdom’s economic sovereignty over the southern regions has significantly increased, following decisions by major economic powers, such as the United States, France, Britain, Russia, Spain, and the European Union, to encourage investment and trade with these regions.
This positions them as a hub for development and stability, and an economic center in their regional context, including the Sahel and Sahara area.
Today, we enter, thank God, a decisive international phase, where the Security Council resolution has outlined the principles and foundations necessary to find a final political solution to this dispute, within the framework of Morocco’s legitimate rights.
In this context of the UN resolution, Morocco will update and detail the autonomy initiative and present it to the United Nations as the only basis for negotiations, considering it a realistic and viable solution.
We would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to all the countries that contributed to this change through their constructive positions and diligent efforts in support of justice and legitimacy.
I would like to especially mention the United States, led by our friend, President Donald Trump, whose efforts have paved the way for reaching a final solution to this dispute.
We also thank our friends in Britain and Spain, and especially France, for their efforts towards the success of this peaceful path.
We extend our sincere thanks to all the Arab and African brotherly countries that have consistently expressed their unconditional support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, as well as various countries worldwide that support the autonomy initiative.
Despite the positive developments regarding our territorial integrity issue, Morocco remains committed to finding a solution that leaves no victor and no vanquished, preserving the honor of all parties involved.
Morocco does not view these transformations as a victory, nor does it exploit them to heighten conflict and disagreements.
In this context, we sincerely call upon our brothers in the Tindouf camps to seize this historic opportunity to reunite with their families, and to partake in the local governance and development of their homeland, building their future within a unified Morocco.
As the King and protector of citizens’ rights and freedoms, I affirm that all Moroccans are equal, with no distinction between those returning from the Tindouf camps and their brothers on national territory.
Additionally, I invite my brother, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, to a sincere and brotherly dialogue between Morocco and Algeria, to overcome differences and build new relations based on trust, brotherhood, and good neighborliness.
We reaffirm our commitment to continue working towards reviving the Maghreb Union, based on mutual respect, cooperation, and integration among its five countries.
Dear people,
The comprehensive development, security, and stability our southern regions are experiencing are thanks to the sacrifices of all Moroccans.
We cannot help but express our pride and appreciation to all our loyal subjects, especially the residents of our southern regions, who have always reaffirmed their attachment to the nation’s sacred values and the country’s national and territorial unity.
We also commend the tireless efforts of official, party, and parliamentary diplomacy, as well as various national institutions, to finally resolve the issue of our territorial integrity.
As we commemorate the everlasting Green March, let us reflect with respect and appreciation on the tremendous sacrifices made by the Royal Armed Forces, security forces, and their families throughout the country during the past fifty years, in defense of the nation’s unity and the preservation of its security and stability.
We also pay tribute to the pure souls of its initiator, our late father, His Majesty King Hassan II, may God ennoble his abode, and all the martyrs of the homeland.
Peace be upon you and the mercy of God.”
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