De Minur’s Consultations Highlight Algeria’s Tightening Grip on Western Sahara Conflict
New York, USA - As the United Nations Security Council gears up for its October discussions on the Western Sahara conflict, Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, has been conducting a series of high-level consultations. These meetings, aimed at reviving the political process and finding a resolution to the decades-long dispute, have brought to light Algeria’s increasingly influential role in the conflict.
De Mistura met with Algerian Foreign Minister, Ahmed Attaf, in New York on Tuesday. According to a statement released by the Algerian Foreign Ministry, Attaf reiterated Algeria’s stance on the conflict, emphasizing the need for a “realistic and consensual political solution.” However, this stance, as the statement suggests, seems to be rooted in outdated approaches that have been superseded by recent UN Security Council resolutions. These resolutions underscore the importance of all parties involved, including Algeria, actively participating in the search for a solution.
The Personal Envoy also held meetings with Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, and Mauritanian Foreign Minister, Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, in New York. Additionally, he is scheduled to visit the Tindouf camps in Algeria on October 3rd to meet with the leadership of the Polisario Front, a Sahrawi liberation movement.
These consultations come ahead of de Mistura’s semi-annual briefing to the UN Security Council in October, which will be held under the Swiss presidency. UN Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, confirmed that the Personal Envoy aims to present a report to the Security Council and UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, on the outcomes of his consultations. The report will focus on the next steps towards achieving a successful political process.
However, Algeria’s insistence on a new approach centered around “direct negotiations” between Morocco and the Polisario Front raises concerns. This stance, seen by many as an attempt to reshape the negotiation process to serve Algeria’s regional interests, threatens to complicate international efforts to find a comprehensive and mutually agreed upon political solution.
The current framework, established by the UN Security Council, emphasizes a collaborative approach involving all stakeholders. By pushing for direct negotiations, Algeria risks derailing the existing political process and hindering the UN’s efforts to mediate a
