The Security Council unanimously passed a resolution concerning the Sahara dispute. It has thus unanimously agreed on the urgent need for finding a political solution through the means of negotiations and an acceptable consensus for all the different parties. This is indicative of the Council's awareness of the fact that a neglected conflict such as the issue of the Sahara may emerge at any given time under the form of threats to the general security and stability, especially in light of the growing security challenges in the Sahel. The Council is further encouraging the concerned neighboring countries to take part in the settlement efforts so as to come up with a regional solution for a dispute that is no longer a bilateral one. This isn't the first time where the international decision makers are holding the neighboring countries responsible for encouraging the negotiations. However, this used to be previously limited to encouraging these countries while today, the challenges are too many and they cannot be dealt with in the absence of an accord among the Maghreb countries in order to halt the growing tension and build a unified front based on a holistic vision of the events in the Sahel. The European security is connected to the Southern part of the Mediterranean and its African extension. This is the reason why France carried out its military intervention in Mali with major European and international support. Furthermore, the North African region is part of the global strategic vision of the Great Middle East, which remains incomplete without North Africa. This is the reason why Washington expressed this much interest in the issue of the Sahara. The US came up with a suggestion to expand the Minurso's mission to include Human Rights in the Sahara. Rabat's decisive position concerning this American suggestion revived the friendly relationship with the USA, without which no efforts or pressure can succeed in preserving Washington's permanent and strategic interests. This round of the conflict rather consisted of a rational dialogue and a means to explore the interests more than anything else. Naturally, this resulted in an agreement. However, this round – that was concluded by underlining the need for a political solution for the Sahara conflict – cannot possibly overlook the fact that there are refugees living away from their countries and suffering in the camps of Tindouf. This highlights the importance of the Security Council's call to carry out a census of the camps' inhabitants. This census will represent the beginning of a possible voluntary return for these refugees. Indeed, the experience of the UNHCR has shown that building a real trust cannot be achieved when the people of the Sahara are housed in the Saharan governorates or the Tindouf camps for a few says. These people must be able to return and to enjoy their freedom in a nation that brings people together instead of separating them. In this sense, the importance of the autonomous rule initiative is highlighted, since this initiative aims at bringing people together and empowering the people of the Sahara governorates with advanced mechanisms to deal with their own domestic affairs through a sound democratic choice with no pressure or coercion. Rabat announced that this is an open initiative, which implies that the initiative is prone to any positive amendment especially that the concerned Security Council resolutions described the initiative as being “serious, credible and pragmatic." This initiative constitutes the middle grounds between the final annexation and the final autonomy. Instead of proceeding with the present obstinacy, the best thing is to come up with a peaceful, just, and permanent consensual solution. Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said that the meeting between the Moroccan phosphate and the Algerian gas will create an agricultural and economic fortune in North Africa. In fact, if Morocco and Algeria were to pool their political efforts together, and if they were to consider the completion of the Maghreb project, this will serve to bring the conflicting points of view closer together. The Europeans – who used to pride themselves with the firmness of their economic and financial structures – are now eying the Mediterranean southern bank. With only a small amount of understanding, the Mediterranean basin can be turned into a milieu of development and prosperity. Then, no country will be limited by its lateral conflicts. The political differences must be diluted in some major economic projects. These projects cannot strive and become viable with the persisting tension and the absence of stability. The Sahara conflict is no more than an obstacle constituting a nuisance to everyone.
