United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the full decolonisation of Western Sahara and 16 other territories that remain under colonial administration, urging renewed global commitment to completing unfinished work begun more than six decades ago.
Addressing the 2026 session of the Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24) on Monday, February 16, Guterres said the global body must recommit to ending colonial rule. His remarks were delivered by his Chef de Cabinet, Courtenay Rattray, at the committee’s opening in New York.
“This organisation was created as a place where nations could meet as equals, not as rulers and ruled,” Guterres said, stressing that decolonisation has been central to the UN’s mission since its founding. He warned that the legacy of colonialism continues to shape modern societies, leaving behind deeply rooted economic exploitation, entrenched inequality, racism, and the marginalisation of affected populations from decision-making processes.
The C-24 was established by the UN General Assembly in 1961 to oversee progress toward granting independence to territories that have yet to achieve full self-governance under Chapter XI of the UN Charter. Its mandate originates from the landmark 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
Since 1945, more than 80 former colonies representing roughly 750 million people have achieved independence. However, 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories remain on the UN list, with a combined population of nearly two million. Western Sahara and 16 others, most of them small island territories in the Caribbean and Pacific, include American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. The administering powers are France, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Western Sahara is widely regarded as Africa’s last colony yet to gain independence. Spain administered the territory, then known 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, controls roughly 30% of the land. Morocco administers approximately 70% to 80% of the territory, a figure that varies depending on the source.
Morocco has worked to expand international support for its claims to the desert territory, with approximately 118 countries now backing its 2007 autonomy proposal, according to Moroccan officials. That proposal envisions Western Sahara as a self-governing region under Moroccan sovereignty. The United States, France, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Kenya are among the countries that have endorsed the plan.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has convened rare talks between Morocco and Algeria in Madrid, with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff stating an ambition to resolve the conflict by the end of 2026. However, the Polisario Front, the Sahrawi liberation movement backed by Algeria, continues to advocate for a referendum that includes independence as an option. The 1991 UN-brokered ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario included provisions for such a referendum, but disagreements over voter eligibility have prevented its implementation for over three decades.
Guterres outlined key priorities for advancing the remaining decolonisation efforts. He urged inclusive dialogue involving non-self-governing territories, administering powers, UN member states, and other relevant stakeholders. He also emphasised that each territory’s situation should be handled individually, guided by the UN Charter, the 1960 Declaration, and relevant General Assembly resolutions.
Many of the remaining territories are small islands facing intensifying climate threats, including rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and more frequent extreme weather events. Guterres urged the Special Committee to place resilience and adaptation at the heart of its discussions.
