In the imposing room of Security adviceat the seat of theHim In new York, the ritual is well established: every six months, the emissary of the United Nations Secretary General presents a point on the state of the file of Moroccan Sahara. But this time, behind closed doors, the tone of Staffan de Mistura decided with the usual prudence of diplomatic language and with the circumlocutions of use in the mysteries of the UN institution. “There is a feeling of urgency,” he said. “If we want to contribute to a de -escalation in the region while advancing towards a political solution realistic, the moment may have come. ” The sentence speaks volumes about the developments in recent months and the need to take advantage of them so that a solution is finally found in this conflict of five decades. In office since November 2021, the former Italian-Swedish diplomat believes that the conditions are met to “relaunch a frozen process”, provided that “the parties show political will”.
Washington’s diplomatic weight
Among the elements of the new context he deems bearing, Mr. de Mistura first quotes the American reaffirmation of support for Moroccan autonomy plan. During the Minister’s visit Nasser Bourita In Washington in early April, the State Department recalled that the solution was to be based on “serious autonomy” as part of the Moroccan sovereignty. “The current American administration has expressed its intention to get involved directly in the facilitation of a regulation accepted by all,” he added. This position is all the more significant as the UNITED STATES are currently “Pen Holder” of the file – in other words, the country in charge of writing resolutions on the Sahara au Security advice. Furthermore, the France which provides the rotating presidency of the Council also supports the unequivocal Moroccan position. This double responsibility gives the Paris-Washington duo a decisive ability to influence. For Morocco, this convergence represents a strategic opportunity: two powers having the right of veto speak today of a single voice.
Autonomy to be specified, a language that evolves
While being careful not to put on the Moroccan initiative, Mr. de Mistura nevertheless recognized that this autonomy should be “better explained”. “It is essential to clarify the transferred skills, institutional guarantees and the democratic participation envisaged,” he noted. The emissary also insisted on the importance of fully involving Sahrawi women in the political process. Furthermore, the presentation of M. de Mistura did not mention the term “referendum” at any time, just as he did not speak of the Polisario as an exclusive representative. For fine observers who knows the file, this silence speaks volumes.
A blockage powered by Algiers and the Polisario
It is clear that in the case of the file of Saharaa lot of water has flowed under the bridges since the last resolution of Security advice From October 2024. Indeed, this resolution devoted the framework, the parties and the purpose of the political process. Thus, the Council again recalled that the round tables constituted the one and only framework to achieve a political solution to this regional dispute. Better yet, the resolution clearly identified the parties to the dispute, in particular theAlgeria which is cited in resolution as many times as the Morocco. Likewise, the Security Council insisted that the political solution can only be realistic, pragmatic, sustainable, and based on compromise, cardinal elements of theMoroccan autonomy initiativewhose pre -eminence has been reaffirmed.
-For the UN as for many Member States, the cause of the dead end is no longer to be demonstrated: the persistent refusal of Algeria and the Polisario to participate in a UN process already validated by the Security Council. This process is based in particular on the round tables bringing together the four parts concerned: Morocco, Algeria, Polisario and Mauritania. Since 2019, Algiers categorically opposes it, denouncing a “biased format”. However, for M. de Mistura, the revival of the dialogue supposes the clear commitment of all the parties around this format.
Morocco, a credible player praised by its partners
A few hours after the intervention of Staffan de Misturathe ambassador of Morocco to the UN, Omar Hilaleintervened on Medi1 TV to salute the “extremely favorable context” and “the growing credibility” of the Moroccan autonomy plan. “THE UNITED STATES Not only reaffirmed their recognition, but have undertaken to actively support the recovery of discussions around the only possible solution: autonomy in the context of sovereignty and theterritorial integrity of Morocco“Said the diplomat. In addition, Omar Hilale sees in the alignment of American and French positions a decisive factor: “Two permanent members of the Security Council who support the Moroccanity of the Saharait is an unprecedented political and strategic impulse ”. He also insisted on the historical symbol: “France, a former colonial power, knows this region, knows its population. Its support, combined with that of the United States, is a real game to change. ”
In contrast, Algeria is accused of being locked in a logic of another century. “She refuses round tables, clings to a frozen narrative inherited from the Cold War. Meanwhile, Morocco is advancing with credibility, stability and vision. ” As for the Polisario, the ambassador does not mince words. “They have never been elected. They are always the same people, from the same tribes, renewed without a democratic mandate, under the sponsorship of Algeria. ” For him, “this is a double capture: Algeria has captured the fate of the sequestered of Tindouf and the Polisario captured their speech.” Opparted, Omar Hilale describes another reality: that of a living and representative Moroccan Sahara. “With us, elected officials come from the ballot boxes, renewed, anchored in their territories. There is a political youth, associations, a real cultural and economic dynamic. ” The diplomat recalls that neither the United Nations nor the African Union recognize the Polisario as a legitimate representative of the Sahrawi populations.
A Diplomatic Diplomatic Mary
As next October session of the Security Council, which will examine the renewal of the Minurso’s mandate (which cost $ 1.7 billion over 34 years), Staffan de Mistura called on the parties to show responsibility. “My mandate is clear, my availability to facilitate discussions is total. If political conditions are met, the coming months can mark a significant advance, “he said. For his part, Omar Hilale concluded on a note of hope: “We hope that 2025, the year of the fiftieth anniversary of the green march, will also mark the culmination of this process. Morocco is ready. The international community begins to recognize it. All that is missing is the awakening of our neighbors. ”
