In his latest report to the Security Council on the Moroccan Sahara, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed regret over the difficulties in advancing the political process facilitated by his personal envoy.
The report highlights that the personal envoy held informal bilateral consultations with various parties but was unable to relaunch the political process aimed at moving towards a peaceful and lasting solution to the regional conflict over the Moroccan Sahara.
This stalemate is primarily attributed to Algeria’s refusal to assume its responsibility and role as a key party in this conflict. The report notes that Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf reiterated in meetings with the personal envoy in February and April 2024 that his country « is not a party » to the conflict.
Algeria’s lack of active participation complicates the political process and delays efforts to find a fair and peaceful solution, allowing the status quo to persist.
Morocco, on the other hand, reaffirmed its willingness to restart the roundtable process, seeing it as an opportunity to foster dialogue.
The report references an April 4, 2024, meeting in Rabat between the personal envoy and Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, where Morocco reiterated its commitment to bolstering international support for its autonomy initiative, which it views as the only viable solution.
Guterres also noted that the personal envoy met with senior officials from the United States, Spain, South Africa, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, all of whom reaffirmed their support for the UN’s efforts to facilitate a political solution to the conflict.
The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of continued diplomatic efforts, underscoring the critical role of international community support in achieving a peaceful and lasting resolution.
