Talks on the Sahara could soon resume in Oslo. On the sidelines of a forum, the UN envoy and the American administration displayed their willingness to accelerate the dialogue process, currently at a standstill.
To resolve a conflict half a century old, Morocco has presented a draft statute of expanded autonomy . This unprecedented document draws directly from several European governance models in order to restart peace negotiations.
The UN envoy for the Sahara emphasized before the Security Council an unprecedented momentum to resolve this regional dispute. The Morocco’s autonomy plan is emerging as the main driver of these new negotiations.
Polisario leader Brahim Ghali has taken note of the intensive international negotiations on the Sahara. This process, supported by Security Council Resolution 2797, now recognizes Morocco’s autonomy plan as the basis for discussions.
The UN and the United States co-chaired new negotiations on Western Sahara in Washington. Based on Morocco’s autonomy plan, these discussions mark an “encouraging” step toward a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict.
The proposal to partition the Sahara made by the UN Secretary-General’s special envoy, Staffan de Mistura, during a briefing to the Security Council is not to the liking of Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad. The spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, and that of the European Union also adopt the same position.
The UN Special Envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, mentioned this week the possibility of a sharing of the Sahara between Morocco and the Polisario Front to end the conflict. A solution rejected by both parties.
The UN special envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, is facing a wall. His proposal to partition the territory, presented during a closed-door meeting of the Security Council, received no support from Morocco or the Polisario Front.
The United Nations has issued a formal denial regarding a possible resignation of Staffan de Mistura, the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Sahara.
Algeria, a supporter of the Polisario against Morocco, believes that the organization of round tables to resolve the Sahara conflict has proven "counterproductive" and makes a proposal to the UN special envoy, Staffan de Mistura .
About a month after his working visit to Morocco, Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy for the Sahara, will continue his tour in the region as part of his mission. The diplomat is announced between September and October in Algeria and Mauritania.
Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Sahara, began a new visit to the region on Saturday to deepen consultations with all the parties involved.