Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, held talks in Rabat with the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura.
According to a statement from the Moroccan foreign ministry, the discussions took place in an atmosphere characterized by frankness, positive spirit, and constructive engagement, in the presence of Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Omar Hilale.
The statement explained that the visit comes within the framework of a regional tour among the parties mentioned in UN Security Council Resolution 2703, aimed at relaunching the political process under the roundtable format involving Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front.
This format is the only framework specified by the Security Council resolutions to reach a political, realistic, practical, and lasting solution based on consensus.
During the discussions, the Moroccan delegation reiterated Morocco’s steadfast positions, as reaffirmed by King Mohammed VI to the UN Secretary-General, including no political process outside the framework of the roundtable discussions as defined by the UN, with full participation from Algeria, no solution outside the framework of the Moroccan Initiative for Autonomy, and no serious political process while the ceasefire is violated daily by the Polisario militias.
The Western Sahara conflict revolves around the territorial dispute over the region of Western Sahara, claimed by both Morocco and the Polisario Front, backed by Algeria.
The UN has been involved in mediating a resolution to the conflict for decades, with various peace initiatives and resolutions, including the establishment of a referendum for self-determination.
However, a lasting solution has yet to be achieved, leading to ongoing tensions in the region.
