Morocco rejects De Mistura's proposal for partition of Western Sahara
Morocco has rejected the recent proposal to divide Western Sahara with the Polisario Front put forward by the UN envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, during a closed-door briefing at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Reuters reports.
According to the news agency, De Mistura presented this plan as one of the solutions to finally resolve the Sahara conflict. The proposal called for the annexation of the northern part of the Sahara territory to Morocco, while the southern part would allow the Polisario Front to establish an independent state with a northern border with Morocco and a southern border with Mauritania.
However, in his report to the members of the Security Council, De Mistura noted that neither Morocco nor the Polisario Front accepted the proposal, indicating at this point that the UN Secretary-General should reconsider the usefulness of his role as special envoy if no progress is made in the next six months.
According to various international reports, Rabat was expected to reject the proposal, especially in view of growing international support for its autonomy plan as a solution to the Sahara conflict under Moroccan sovereignty. The latest significant international backing came from France, a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
Reuters notes that the Kingdom's top offer to resolve the conflict remains the autonomy proposal. In this regard, Rabat has repeatedly reiterated that it cannot offer more, as confirmed in two meetings with Staffan de Mistura, Morocco's foreign minister, Nasser Bourita.
Even King Mohammed VI has repeatedly stressed the importance of the Sahara for the country, asserting that this issue ‘is the prism through which Morocco looks at the world’.
Moreover, the current context surrounding the Sahara issue shows that Morocco is moving with determination towards a favourable resolution, backed by a growing number of nations that recognise its sovereignty over the territory, including major world powers such as the United States, France and Spain.
It is also worth noting that, at recent meetings of the UN Fourth Committee, several countries praised Morocco's efforts to develop the region, underlining that the territory of the Moroccan Sahara has experienced remarkable progress in different sectors in recent decades thanks to Moroccan investments.
The UN Secretary General recommends the extension of MINURSO's mandate
In the midst of this situation, the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, has released his annual report on Western Sahara, recommending to the Security Council to extend MINURSO's mandate by one year, until 31 October 2025, reports Le Matin.
This document, which addresses the developments of the Sahara issue both on the ground and at the international level, provides an overview of the evolution of the political process from last October until now.
It also analyses the security aspects of MINURSO's action, in particular with regard to its civilian activities and the challenges it faces during its mandate.
The report also examines the issue of human rights, highlighting assistance to the populations in the Tindouf camps, as well as the protection of human rights in the Sahara and violations of fundamental rights and freedoms in the camps.
It concludes with recommendations, including in particular the extension of MINURSO's mandate for a period of 12 months.
The Security Council is due to meet on 30 October next to adopt the new resolution on the Sahara.
