United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a renewed global push to complete the process of decolonization, highlighting Western Sahara and 16 other Non-Self-Governing Territories that remain under colonial administration more than 60 years after the UN launched its formal decolonization efforts.
In remarks delivered by his Chef de Cabinet, Courtenay Rattray, at the opening of the 2026 session of the Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24) in New York on Monday, February 16, 2026, Guterres stressed that decolonization has been a core objective of the United Nations since its founding. He described the legacy of colonialism as leaving "profound scars," including economic exploitation, racism, inequality, and exclusion from decision-making processes that continue to affect the nearly two million people living in these territories.
"Decolonization is unfinished business," Guterres stated, urging the international community to redouble efforts to ensure the full self-determination of these peoples. The C-24, formally known as the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, monitors progress and makes recommendations to the General Assembly on remaining cases.
The UN currently lists 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, ranging from Western Sahara in Africa to small island territories primarily in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. These include:
Africa: Western Sahara (administered by Spain de jure, but de facto under Moroccan control and disputed by the Polisario Front representing the Sahrawi people).
Atlantic and Caribbean: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Montserrat, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands (all administered by the United Kingdom); and United States Virgin Islands (administered by the United States).
Pacific: American Samoa, Guam (administered by the United States); Tokelau (administered by New Zealand); Pitcairn (administered by the United Kingdom); and others such as French Polynesia and New Caledonia (administered by France).
Guterres outlined three key priorities to guide the remaining decolonization process:
- Inclusive dialogue involving the Non-Self-Governing Territories, administering Powers, UN Member States, and all relevant stakeholders to foster constructive engagement.
- Youth leadership to ensure younger generations play a central role in shaping their territories' futures.
- Urgent climate action, as many of these territories—particularly small island ones—are on the frontlines of intensifying climate threats, including rising sea levels, extreme weather, and environmental degradation that exacerbate vulnerabilities.
The Secretary-General emphasized the need for resilience and adaptation measures to be placed at the heart of discussions, noting that these territories face disproportionate impacts from global climate change despite contributing minimally to emissions.
Western Sahara remains one of the most contentious cases on the list, with ongoing disputes between Morocco, which administers most of the territory and proposes an autonomy plan under its sovereignty, and the Polisario Front, which seeks full independence for the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) continues to monitor the ceasefire, though a self-determination referendum has not been held due to disagreements over voter eligibility and other issues.
The statement aligns with the UN's long-standing commitment under Chapter XI of the Charter and General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV), which declared the right of colonial peoples to self-determination. Despite significant progress—over 100 territories having achieved independence since 1945—the persistence of these 17 cases underscores the unfinished agenda.
The C-24 session will continue to hear petitioners from the territories, review reports from administering Powers, and consider recommendations for advancing self-government or independence options. Guterres' call reflects broader UN efforts to address historical injustices while tackling contemporary challenges like climate vulnerability in these regions.
As the international community marks ongoing decolonization efforts, the focus remains on ensuring that the aspirations of the peoples in these territories are realized through peaceful, inclusive, and equitable processes.
