8 October 2026: the Fourth Committee reopens the Sahara debate

Petitioners speak. Senegal describes an encouraging evolution since resolution 2797 and states its support for the Moroccan autonomy plan.

On 8 October 2026, the Fourth Committee heard the last petitioners on the Sahara and opened its debate on decolonisation. The UN release sums up two lines: some ask that Western Sahara not be reduced to a border dispute; others stress that negotiations should start from Morocco’s autonomy plan.

Senegal’s representative said the file has seen an encouraging evolution since Security Council resolution 2797 (2025), which renewed MINURSO’s mandate and invited regional actors to resume dialogue. He expressed his country’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan and called on the parties to work with UNHCR and the World Food Programme for the rights of the people in the Tindouf camps.

Source note. UN press release, 8 October 2026: https://press.un.org/en/2026/gaspd837.doc.htm