US Envoy Pushes for Sahara Solution, Eying Morocco-Algeria Thaw

"When a lasting solution is found to the Sahara issue, the settlement of the dispute between Algeria and Morocco will become much easier," said Mossad Boulos, the US president’s chief advisor for Arab and African affairs, in an exclusive interview with Sky News Arabia. The Sahara issue remains one of the points of friction between Rabat and Algiers. According to him, the vote on Thursday, October 30, on Security Council Resolution 2025 on the issue is a "very important deadline".

"We are working with all partners and allies, particularly Morocco and Algeria, to reach a Security Council decision that satisfies everyone as much as possible... And we know it is not easy to satisfy everyone," said the American diplomat, adding that all issues can be discussed, particularly regarding the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Organization of a Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

Boulos was keen to reiterate the US position on the Sahara: "The position of the United States and Trump is very clear on the Sahara issue... Trump has recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara as part of the autonomy proposal... Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara is, for Trump and Washington, irreversible... We consider the Moroccan proposal on the Sahara to be the best proposal." He assured that "Morocco is with constructive ideas within the framework of the autonomy proposal".

And he continued: "We are optimistic about the Sahara issue. We are optimistic because we know that King Mohammed VI of Morocco has decided that we are capable of reaching a definitive and rapid solution, and we also know that the Algerians are open to this constructive discussion".