New York (United Nations), November 10, 2026 (SPS) – Denmark has reaffirmed that the right to self-determination must remain the guiding principle of any political process concerning Western Sahara, stressing that its outcome cannot be predetermined or imposed.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday during the debate under the “veto initiative” (Resolution 76/262), Denmark’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen, explained that her country had voted in favour of the draft resolution submitted to the Security Council on October 30 to preserve the vital presence of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and prevent a deadlock, despite significant shortcomings in the US-sponsored text.
“We acknowledge that the draft resolution was not perfect,” she said, reiterating that the principle of self-determination must meaningfully guide the political process and that its outcome cannot be determined in advance.
Lassen stressed that the people of Western Sahara deserve to live in peace and dignity and to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination, in accordance with the UN Charter and international principles. She called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint and engage in dialogue to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution.
She also warned that the termination of MINURSO’s operations and the absence of field-monitoring mechanisms could increase the risk of escalation and regional conflict. She stressed that the failure to reach consensus within the Security Council should not undermine prospects for a peaceful, negotiated settlement.
Following the October 30 vote, Denmark had also clarified that its support for extending MINURSO’s mandate did not in any way constitute recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, reaffirming its commitment to international law and the territory’s status as a decolonization issue.
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