King Mohammed VI: Morocco’s Stance on Western Sahara ’Non-Negotiable’

The Sahara, the source of the conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front supported by Algeria, "is not up for negotiation," said King Mohammed VI on Saturday in a speech broadcast on national television. "Today as in the past, the ’Moroccanness’ of the Sahara will never be on the agenda of any negotiation," the Sovereign clearly stated.

To read: article 87907

These remarks by the Moroccan monarch come in a context of tensions with Algeria, which broke off its diplomatic relations with the kingdom in August. Last week, the UN Secretary-General called on the two parties in conflict in the Sahara to return to the negotiating table "without preconditions and in good faith".

To read: UN Chief Urges Morocco and Polisario to Agree on Western Sahara Envoy

The new UN Special Envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, will conduct these negotiations "with a view to reaching a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution", which should lead to "self-determination of the people of Western Sahara," the UN says in a resolution extending the mandate of MINURSO, the UN mission in the Sahara, for one year.