UN Envoy Begins Sahara Peace Tour in Morocco, Aims to Revive Political Process

For the purpose of his regional tour, the Italian Staffan de Mistura "will meet Moroccan officials in Rabat and then Polisario Front officials in Tindouf and Rabouni" in Algeria, Stéphane Dujarric specified during his daily press briefing. He "also plans to go to Algiers and Nouakchott during his trip," in order "to listen to the views of all the parties concerned on how to move forward towards a constructive resumption of the political process on the Western Sahara".

Staffan de Mistura took up his duties in November last year, two months after the breakdown of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Algeria. Algiers accuses Rabat of "hostile actions" against the backdrop of a dispute over the Sahara issue. Will he be able to organize a meeting between the two parties, especially since his predecessor, the German Horst Köhler, had faced the refusal of Algeria to participate in a resumption of negotiations organized in Switzerland.

The last round table took place in 2019 with the participation of Morocco, the Polisario, Algeria and Mauritania as observers.