Western Sahara decolonisation has returned to the international spotlight as UN Secretary-General António Guterres renewed calls for the full liberation of Western Sahara and 16 other territories that remain under colonial administration.
Speaking at the 2026 session of the Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24), Guterres highlighted the urgent need for the global community to recommit to ending colonial rule more than six decades after the United Nations formally launched its decolonisation agenda.
“This organisation was founded as a forum where nations meet as equals, not as rulers and the ruled,” Guterres said. He stressed that decolonisation has been central to the UN’s mission since its inception. He also warned that the legacy of colonialism continues to affect societies worldwide, leaving behind economic exploitation, entrenched inequality, racism, and marginalisation of affected populations from key decision-making processes.
The C-24 was established by the UN General Assembly in 1961 to monitor progress toward granting independence to territories that have not yet achieved full self-governance under Chapter XI of the UN Charter. Its mandate originates from the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
During his address, Guterres outlined key priorities for advancing remaining decolonisation efforts. He urged inclusive dialogue among non-self-governing territories, administering powers, UN member states, and other stakeholders. He emphasized that each territory’s situation must be handled individually, guided by the UN Charter, the 1960 Declaration, and relevant General Assembly resolutions.
Since 1945, more than 80 former colonies representing roughly 750 million people have achieved independence. However, Western Sahara and 16 other Non-Self-Governing Territories, most of them small island territories in the Caribbean and Pacific, remain on the UN list, with a combined population of nearly two million.
Western Sahara is widely regarded as Africa’s last colony yet to achieve independence. Spain administered the territory, known then as Spanish Sahara, until 1976, when it withdrew, triggering a prolonged dispute involving Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania.
Since Spain’s departure, control of the territory has been divided. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), operating a government-in-exile from Tindouf, Algeria, administers approximately 30 per cent of the land. Morocco controls roughly 70 per cent of the territory and has indicated plans to resolve the long-standing conflict through talks brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Guterres’ call reinforces the continued importance of decolonisation in international policy. The process is not merely symbolic; it impacts global peace, security, and economic equality. Resolving the status of remaining territories, including Western Sahara, is essential for ensuring human rights, regional stability, and the principle of self-determination.
