UN Chief Warns of ’Major Setback’ in Western Sahara Peace Process

In his report submitted this Saturday, October 2 to the UN Security Council, Guterres states that the situation on the ground has "deteriorated" significantly over the past year, due to the resumption of hostilities between Morocco and the Polisario Front and the Covid-19 pandemic, considerably modifying "the operational environment of Minurso [and] limiting the mission’s ability to carry out its mandate".

Deeply concerned, Antonio Guterres considers that the "resumption of hostilities between Morocco and the Polisario Front is a major setback towards obtaining a political solution", fearing "an obvious risk of escalation as long as the hostilities persist" and calling on "the parties to calm the situation and immediately cease hostilities."

In this report cited by AFP and not yet made public, the Secretary-General recalls that in mid-November 2020, the Polisario Front had announced that it no longer felt bound by the ceasefire in force since 1991, following incidents with Morocco.