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The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has called for renewed efforts to complete the decolonisation of Western Sahara and 16 other territories that remain under colonial rule.
Guterres, speaking at the opening of the 2026 session of the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24) on Monday, noted that decolonisation has been a core UN objective since the organisation’s founding.
“This organisation was created as a place where nations can meet as equals, not as rulers and ruled,” Guterres said.
He noted the continuing impact of colonialism on economic exploitation, inequality, racism, and exclusion from decision-making.
The C-24, established by the UN General Assembly in 1961, monitors progress toward granting independence to territories that have not yet attained a “full measure of self-government,” under Chapter XI of the UN Charter.
Its mandate stems from the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
Guterres called for inclusive dialogue involving non-self-governing territories, administering powers, member states, and other stakeholders.
He noted that each territory must be addressed individually, in accordance with the UN Charter, the 1960 Declaration, and relevant General Assembly resolutions.
Since 1945, more than 80 former colonies, home to around 750 million people, have gained independence. However, Western Sahara and 16 other non-self-governing territories, mostly small Caribbean and Pacific islands, remain on the UN list, together home to nearly two million people.
Western Sahara, often described as “Africa’s last colony”, was colonised by Spain as Spanish Sahara until 1976.
After Spain’s exit, the territory became the focus of a dispute involving Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania.
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), with a government-in-exile in Tindouf, Algeria, currently controls roughly 30 percent of the territory, while Morocco administers the remaining 70 percent.
Recent reports indicate that Morocco has outlined plans to resolve the Western Sahara conflict, following talks brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The other 16 include American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands (Malvinas)*, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands, and United States Virgin Islands.
The administering powers are France, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
