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With UN Talks Looming, De Mistura Presses for Sahara Resolution as Morocco Stands Firm

UN Envoy Returns to Morocco Ahead of Key April Meeting

With a crucial UN meeting on the Western Sahara conflict scheduled for April, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura has returned to Morocco in a renewed effort to revive stalled negotiations over the decades-long territorial dispute.

Morocco Reaffirms Autonomy Plan as Only Viable Solution

During high-level talks in Rabat, De Mistura met with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and the country’s UN representative Omar Hilale. Moroccan officials reiterated their position that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty remains the only workable solution, citing support from over 100 nations including the U.S., France, and Spain.

King Mohammed VI has consistently urged the UN to recognize the reality of Morocco’s control over the territory rather than entertain what Rabat views as outdated proposals from the Polisario Front and its primary backer, Algeria.

Two Key Objectives of De Mistura’s Mission

According to Moussaoui El Ajlaoui, an expert on African desert affairs, De Mistura’s visit serves two main purposes:

• Providing an update to the UN Security Council following its recent resolution extending MINURSO’s mandate
• Determining whether meaningful negotiations can progress or remain deadlocked

Diplomatic Challenges and Regional Dynamics

El Ajlaoui noted Morocco’s strengthened position with European support from countries like Spain, Germany, and Scandinavian nations. This contrasts sharply with the Polisario’s continued push for an independence referendum – an approach Morocco dismisses as obsolete.

International relations analyst Hassan Akertit identified Algeria’s participation as the critical hurdle. “Morocco has made Algeria’s involvement a prerequisite for any new talks,” Akertit explained, pointing to the Polisario’s return to armed activity and withdrawal from the UN ceasefire as major obstacles.

UN Security Council Resolution 2756 Looms Large

Akertit connected De Mistura’s efforts to UNSC Resolution 2756, which frames current diplomatic initiatives amid shifting regional dynamics, including Algeria’s refusal to engage and renewed Polisario hostilities.

The Path Forward

As De Mistura attempts to restart negotiations, his success will hinge on bridging these deep divisions and advancing a practical, lasting solution acceptable to all parties involved in this enduring conflict.

This article is a summary of an original report. Full credit goes to the original source. We invite our readers to explore the original article for more insights directly from the source.

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