UN Security Council Urges Renewed Negotiations in Western Sahara Conflict

Adopting Resolution 2602, the 15-member body stressed the importance of a renewed commitment from the parties to advance the political process with a view to continuing the negotiations, also calling for political will and working in a climate conducive to dialogue to advance the discussions.

Following the text presented by the United States, the Council called on the protagonists to fully respect the military agreements concluded with MINURSO regarding the ceasefire, to implement their commitments to the former Personal Envoy and to refrain from any action that could undermine the UN-facilitated negotiations or destabilize the situation in Western Sahara.

Speaking after the vote, Nasser Bourita welcomed the text, stating that it "specifies the true parties to the conflict by calling on Algeria to participate in it in a responsible and constructive manner." He also recalled that "the Security Council has mentioned the round table at least four times as the exclusive framework for the continuation of the political process."

Similarly, the Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN, Omar Hilale, stated that Security Council Resolution 2602 adopted on Friday confirms the "continuity" of the round table process as the "sole and unique" framework for the settlement of the regional dispute over the Sahara.

He added that the UN has exposed, in its new resolution, the "allegations and lies" peddled by Algeria and "its polisario" about a supposed "Hollywood war" in the Moroccan Sahara, "thus totally ignoring their warmongering narrative, attesting to the calm, tranquility and normality of life in our southern provinces."

Recall that Staffan de Mistura is to relaunch the UN mediation as of November 1.