The UN decision to back Morocco’s plan for Western Sahara last month has provided some reassurance for foreign firms looking to invest in the disputed territory, but many investors will remain hesitant until the matter is fully resolved, analysts told Al-Monitor.

What happened: In his national address on Oct. 31, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI was ebullient. The monarch described the long-disputed Western Sahara region as becoming a "hub for development and stability" and recognized several countries for encouraging investment and trade in the disputed territory. He even marked a national holiday on Oct. 31 to celebrate the UN approval.

Earlier that day, across the Atlantic, the UN Security Council voted in favor of a resolution backing Rabat’s plan for Western Sahara, describing autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty as the “most feasible solution” to the 50-year disagreement over the disputed territory. The US sponsored the UN measure, leading the 11 countries that voted in favor.

Context: Morocco already controls more than 75% of Western Sahara, and the remainder is under the Polisario Front, an Algeria-backed militia seeking independence for the Sahrawi people. Morocco considers the region its own, while the Polisario Front and Algeria back its independence.