Staffan de Mistura: "The hardest part is now" for the Sahara

According to De Mistura, the Security Council resolution on the Sahara is "significant, as it demonstrates international energy and determination to resolve this conflict". "Previously, we could not count on it. Today, it is of particular importance," said the special envoy during an online press conference from Brussels, adding that the adoption of this text is the "result of a very proactive commitment" by Donald Trump’s Africa advisor, Massad Boulos, the US representative to the UN, Mike Waltz, and "other interested members, including those who abstained or did not vote", referring to Algeria which, although a member of the Council this year, decided not to participate in the vote on this resolution. "They were all involved in one way or another."

De Mistura also expressed his hope that the parties and Council members will "participate constructively in order to maintain a positive momentum". The special envoy, however, stressed that the resolution, "in its clearly formulated paragraphs, provides a framework for the negotiations", but "does not prescribe a result which, as always, to be sustainable, will be the fruit of negotiations conducted in good faith. Let us remember that participating in negotiations does not automatically imply accepting a result". In this perspective, the UN diplomat says he is "looking forward to learning about the content of Morocco’s expanded and updated autonomy plan" which will invite all parties to submit "proposals and suggestions" in order to develop a program of "direct or indirect discussions on the most important issues", which will also have to take into account the demands of the Polisario Front and "other relevant ideas".

The UN Security Council resolution adopted last Friday, which extends the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) by one year, "calls on the parties to engage in discussions without preconditions, on the basis of Morocco’s autonomy proposal, with a view to reaching a final political solution that is mutually acceptable and provides for the self-determination of the Sahrawi people, recognizes that genuine autonomy could be the most realistic solution, and encourages the parties to present ideas to support a final mutually acceptable solution". Following the vote on this resolution, King Mohammed VI welcomed this "historic" decision before declaring October 31 a public holiday in Morocco. The Polisario, for its part, warned that it would not participate in any negotiations excluding the right to self-determination.