– Morocco’s royal palace announced that October 31 will become a national holiday starting in 2026. The date marks the UN Security Council Resolution 2797, which endorses Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a disputed territory claimed by both Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front.
The new Unity Day will be a public holiday across Morocco, providing a day off for the general population. Officials said the new holiday will commemorate international recognition of its position on Western Sahara.
Background: Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a territory about the size of the UK along the Atlantic coast in the northwest of Africa. Both the Moroccan state and an Algerian-backed group have been fighting for control of the region since 1976.
The latest UN resolution, passed on October 31, 2025, describes autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as a “credible and realistic” path forward. Some political analysts call this a diplomatic win for Morocco.