MINURSO chief contradicts Polisario's version of the Western Sahara conflict
The problems faced by the blue helmets in carrying out their duties among the existing difficulties were enumerated during a meeting behind closed doors of the UN Security Council by Alexandre Ivanko, special representative for Western Sahara and director of MINURSO (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara), according to the information given to the media Yabiladi.
This observation is in line with the report of the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres. Ivanko criticised in particular "the persistent operational obstacles and the lack of progress in the political process" that impede the operations of the UN mission.
"This Council is well aware of the limitations on our freedom of movement east of the Berma," he stressed. "Our logistics and resupply operations continue to encounter these constraints." He recalled that the Polisario Front wrote to the Secretary-General in March following a compromise strategy which consisted in offering safe passage for a supply convoy to the operational sites west of the Sand Wall as an extraordinary and temporary measure.
According to Alexander Ivanko, the Polisario does not allow any helicopter reconnaissance and MINURSO's "observation activities" east of the Berma are limited to specific 20-kilometre corridors. Ivanko's statements contradict numerous Polisario press releases announcing recurrent and deadly shootings against FAR (Royal Armed Forces) positions.
At the end of March 2023, Polisario militias had blocked access to the MINURSO base of operations, which was located east of the Sand Wall built by the Royal Armed Forces. The Front eventually changed its mind on an official letter to Antonio Guterres as a result of pressure from outside. The Portuguese also reserved paragraphs 15 and 16 of their report for this incident.
Polisario has not changed its position since then. Eventually, the "interim measure" emerged. MINURSO carried out "five more resupply sorties". The chief lamented that "these positive developments" do not guarantee "the logistical stability we need to plan and operate in the future". "Ground convoys are needed to transport survival supplies, spare parts and diesel fuel for generators to operating bases east of the Berma. Each convoy must be carefully coordinated with both sides," he insisted.
On the ground, Russian Ivanko clarified that "low-intensity hostilities continue along the Berma, mainly around the Mahbès area in the north-east of the territory". Each day, each side reports an average of one to two firefights. Both sides reported incidents in September, which caused these figures to rise again after a drop in the summer.
According to Ivanko, since November 2022, at the request of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and under their escort, MINURSO regularly visits sites in or near the Berma where artillery and mortar fire has allegedly occurred. However, due to the distance and the need to coordinate movements with the Royal Moroccan Army, the visits take place shortly after the alleged incidents, which restricts the applicability of our findings.