Western Sahara: for credible mediation, the Sahrawi voice must finally open up to pluralism
The recent statement by Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf, expressing his country's willingness to support political mediation between Morocco and the Polisario Front, was welcomed as a sign of regional appeasement. But it raises an essential question: can we continue to imagine a lasting solution to the conflict in Western Sahara by reproducing the same bilateral framework that has failed for almost fifty years?
If Algeria has built its democracy on political plurality, is it not time for it to recognise that same right to diversified representation for the Sahrawi people?
Since the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2797 (2025), the United Nations framework has changed. The Council now advocates for realistic political solutions based on compromise and local governance, thus breaking with the rigid referendum approach that has long frozen positions. This shift requires all actors, including Algeria, which today presents itself as a facilitator, to reconsider the parameters of the peace process.
For decades, Sahrawi representation has been monopolised by a single group. However, the political and social evolution of the region shows that there is now a plurality of Sahrawi voices, carrying divergent, sometimes complementary, but above all legitimate visions.
The Sahrawi Movement for Peace (MSP) is part of this dynamic, born out of a rejection of extremes and a desire to propose a third way. Far from rigid rhetoric, the MSP has established itself as an actor with a pragmatic and inclusive vision, consistent with the guidelines of Resolution 2797.
The MSP has presented an unprecedented document: the ‘Special Statute for the Sahara’, an institutional proposal articulated in 54 articles. This text is inspired by recognised international models and proposes advanced autonomy within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty, with:
- An elected Sahrawi Assembly, endowed with broad powers
- A local executive accountable to this parliament
- Local management of natural resources
- Guarantees for the identity, language and culture of the Sahrawi people
- A modern system of governance, adapted to regional realities
Unlike other documents drawn up by external actors, this is a proposal drafted by Sahrawis for Sahrawis, which gives it unique political legitimacy.
Supporting mediation between Rabat and the Polisario may be a useful gesture, but only on condition that we recognise that the time when the Sahrawi people could be reduced to a single organisation is over. The changes underway — political, social, generational — require a broader understanding of the Sahrawi context.
Therefore, truly constructive mediation must be based on three pillars: modernised Moroccan proposals, in line with Resolution 2797; dialogue with the Polisario, which remains a historic interlocutor; and the integration of new Sahrawi forces, notably the MSP.
Ignoring this pluralism would be tantamount to prolonging the stalemate at a time when the Sahel and the Sahel-Saharan space can no longer afford chronic instability.
The Western Sahara conflict is no longer just a duel. It has become a question of governance, regional security and political representation. Resolution 2797 has opened up a unique opportunity: to build a solution based on reality, not on nostalgia for the paradigms of the past.
To take advantage of this opportunity, we must accept a simple idea that has been dismissed for too long: peace can only come from a plural, inclusive and authentic Sahrawi representation.
The MSP currently offers the most structured expression of this. Recognising this does not mean marginalising anyone, but rather integrating a political reality that has become unavoidable.
If Algeria truly wishes to contribute to a lasting solution, its mediation must be that of three voices, not just two: that of Rabat, that of the Polisario and that of those Sahrawis who have long remained silent but are now determined to play an active role in their destiny.