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Rabat – The UN Secretary-General Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, is preparing for his first regional tour to meet with involved parties in the Sahara conflict.
Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General confirmed the visit in a press briefing on January 6. Dujarric said de Mistura is “actively preparing his first regional tour.”
He added that the personal envoy is in contact with relevant parties. “Obviously, he is looking forward to a visit. Once the visit is set, including all the stops, we will share that with you,” he said.
Parties to the Western Sahara conflict include Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and Polisario.
The spokesperson also commented on the ongoing tension between Morocco and Algeria, describing it as “a situation that needs to be resolved, that’s within the mandate of, Mr. de Mistura’s specific mandate.”
Dujarric said: “things are always less complicated when bilateral relations between countries are more positive than negative.”
Algeria cut relations with Morocco last year after the Algerian regime accused Morocco of undermining its security and blaming the kingdom for the summer wildfires in the Kabylie region.
While regretting Algeria’s decision to sever relations, the Moroccan government categorically rejected the allegations and accusations Algeria made against Rabat.
It remains to be seen whether the Algerian regime will engage in de Mistura’s initiatives as part of the UN-led political process to find a lasting and mutually acceptable solution to end the conflict over Western Sahara.
Algeria has repeatedly denied its responsibility in the conflict, claiming that it is an observer, not an active party.
The UN appointed de Mistura in August 2021. He replaced Horst Kohler, the former personal envoy, who resigned in May 2019 due to health issues.
Under Kohler, the UN managed to convene the parties to the conflict in a series of round-table talks in Geneva.
It remains to be seen whether de Mistura will be able to build on Kohler’s mission or if he will face resistance from Algeria and the Polisario Front amid the ongoing political crisis.
