De Mistura Sees ‘Real Opportunity’ in Autonomy Plan to End Sahara Dispute
Rabat –The United Nations’ personal envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, has pointed to renewed momentum in the UN-led political process, telling the Security Council that current efforts offer a “real opportunity” to move toward a lasting solution.
According to details of his briefing reported by Agence France-Presse, the UN envoy described a “genuine momentum” emerging from recent rounds of consultations. He noted that these discussions have helped clarify key parameters of a political settlement aligned with Security Council resolutions, which call for a realistic, pragmatic, and durable outcome to the long-running regional dispute.
At the center of these developments is Morocco’s autonomy initiative, which de Mistura said has been further detailed in recent exchanges. The Moroccan proposal responds to longstanding calls from the United Nations for concrete frameworks to advance negotiations, he explained.
The Security Council has consistently described the autonomy plan as “serious and credible,” viewing it as the most realistic basis for reaching a final political solution. Recent consultations have explored how such an approach could translate into governance arrangements, including local administration, participation mechanisms, and institutional guarantees.
Read also: US Institute of Peace: ‘Western Sahara Conflict is Over, Negotiating Terms is Next’
De Mistura also highlighted Morocco’s stated commitment to continuing dialogue exclusively within the UN-led process, as diplomatic efforts seek to maintain momentum after years of stalled negotiations.
Looking ahead, the envoy said he intends to reconvene the concerned parties before October. The objective would be to move closer to a framework agreement, outline a mutually acceptable validation mechanism, and begin shaping an implementation process that could unfold during a transitional period.
The renewed push follows an October resolution by the Security Council reaffirming the central role of Morocco’s autonomy initiative and emphasizing it as the most viable path toward a lasting political resolution of the dispute.
International diplomatic engagement around the Sahara issue continues to reflect growing convergence on Morocco’s autonomy initiative as a serious framework for a negotiated settlement.
Countries including Switzerland and the United Kingdom have, in various official positions, reiterated support for a pragmatic political process under the United Nations framework, viewing the autonomy proposal as a credible basis for resolving the dispute.
In parallel, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau will visit Algeria and Morocco from April 27 to May 1, as Washington continues diplomatic engagement in the region.
According to the US State Department, discussions in Algeria will focus on regional security and economic cooperation with American companies. In Morocco, talks are expected to cover technological cooperation, space coordination, and the strengthening of bilateral security ties.
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