Algeria and the Polisario forced to sit down at the negotiating table in Madrid

Washington has imposed secret and highly sensitive negotiations in Madrid this Sunday, inside the US embassy, with the participation of Morocco, the Polisario Front, Mauritania, and its official sponsor, Algeria, according to reliable sources close to the organization of the meetings.

At the request of the United States, France, and De Mistura, Morocco has significantly developed its 2007 autonomy proposal.

The original proposal, which consisted of only three pages, has become a detailed document of approximately 40 pages presented in Madrid.

Despite the participation of the UN envoy to Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, the real leadership of the negotiation process has become decidedly American, headed by Massad Boulos, President Donald Trump's envoy to Africa, together with the US ambassador to the United Nations, Michael Waltz.

This is consistent with Boulos' recent statement that resolving the Western Sahara conflict is a “top priority” for the Trump administration, insisting that negotiations must be based on Resolution 2797, adopted in October by the UN Security Council, which considers the proposal for autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty to be the serious, realistic, and fair basis for resolving the conflict. fair, lasting, and mutually acceptable basis for resolving the conflict.

In this context, Algeria and Mauritania appear to find themselves in a position of limited maneuverability in the face of a US invitation described as non-negotiable.  This reflects the extent of the political and diplomatic pressure Washington is exerting to push the parties toward a final agreement.

Ultimately, under the auspices of the United States, Morocco and the Polisario Front are meeting in Madrid to engage in new talks on the future of the Sahara. These confidential negotiations are being held at the US embassy and also involve Algeria and Mauritania. The talks are led by representatives of the Trump administration and attended by UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura.

While the Polisario Front continues to play cards that have lost their value, receiving diplomatic figures in desperate attempts to give them an appearance of legitimacy, such as the recent reception of the new Venezuelan ambassador at its residence on Algerian soil, as if clutching at straws, the issue is heading towards a new, more serious and delicate turning point on the international stage.

Morocco presents a detailed autonomy plan during negotiations in Madrid

At the request of the United States, France, and De Mistura, Morocco has significantly developed its 2007 autonomy proposal. The original proposal, which consisted of only three pages, has become a detailed document of approximately 40 pages.

This new proposal was drafted by three advisors close to King Mohammed VI: Fouad Ali El Himma, Taieb Fassi Fihri, and Omar Azziman, in coordination with state institutions and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Interior.

This decision reflects Morocco's seriousness and willingness to enter a decisive phase of negotiations. Rabat comes to these negotiations with a very important asset: an expanded version of its autonomy plan, which now consists of some forty pages. This document, drafted by several royal advisers and key ministers, seeks to strengthen the autonomy proposal for the southern provinces with a more solid institutional approach.

Washington is pushing for the discussions to take place within the framework of Security Council Resolution 2797, which recognizes the Moroccan initiative as a “serious and credible” basis for achieving a lasting political solution.Although Algeria and the Polisario Front maintain their defense of the principle of self-determination, US diplomacy, which now leads the process, seeks to accelerate a resolution of the conflict, considering it an absolute priority.

For Morocco, the challenge is twofold: to gain greater international support for its autonomy plan and to diminish the role of MINURSO, whose mandate expires in the fall.

The UN mission, already weakened by budget constraints, is not in a position to organize the referendum planned in 1991, which has become politically outdated.

These talks are taking place in a favorable context for Morocco, backed by the European Union's explicit support for its initiative, as well as the recognition of its sovereignty over the Sahara by the United States and France.

Although Madrid was chosen for practical reasons to host the talks, it has not participated in their preparation.