The United Nations has officially published a report by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the Western Sahara issue, highlighting Algeria’s significant role in the regional dispute.
In his report, Guterres mentioned Algeria 20 times, underscoring its status as a principal party in the ongoing regional conflict. He acknowledged Algeria’s participation, along with other concerned parties, in unofficial bilateral consultations led by the UN’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, in New York on March 30, 2023.
The UN Secretary-General also highlighted various visits made by de Mistura to Algiers, where he held meetings with Algerian foreign ministers and senior officials. Algeria’s involvement in the Western Sahara conflict is confirmed by resolutions of the UN Security Council, including Resolution 2654, which mentions both Algeria and Morocco.
Guterres called on Algeria, as a “concerned party,” to clarify and develop its position to advance towards a fair, permanent, and acceptable political solution to the conflict, as per UN Security Council Resolution 2654.
Furthermore, he urged Algeria, as a concerned party, to engage constructively and with the necessary political will, alongside the UN’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, in pursuit of a realistic, practical, and enduring solution based on the spirit of consensus, in line with UN Security Council resolutions since 2018.
Guterres also pointed out the glaring contradictions in Algeria’s stance, as it continues to oppose the format of roundtable meetings, a direct violation of UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2654, which specifies that roundtable discussions are the sole framework for the political process under the exclusive auspices of the United Nations.
The UN official made it clear that the deterioration of relations between Algeria and Morocco remains a source of concern and continues to impact the situation in Western Sahara and the quest for a resolution to this regional conflict. He emphasized that Algeria plays a key role in settling this regional dispute.
In another sign of Algeria’s primary responsibility in perpetuating this conflict, Guterres highlighted that de Mistura’s efforts as the UN’s Personal Envoy to Western Sahara have continued amid regional tensions. He also acknowledged the deep concerns expressed by various capitals regarding the Algeria-Morocco relationship, while recording reassurances from officials in Algiers and Rabat regarding their commitment to avoiding further escalation.
Overall, the UN Secretary-General’s report underscores Algeria’s significant involvement in the Western Sahara conflict and calls for a constructive and transparent approach to facilitate a lasting political solution to this long-standing regional issue.
