Western Sahara: Spain Renews Support for UN-Led Political Process

Rabat – Spain renewed on Wednesday its support for the UN-led political process to help find a political solution to end the dispute over the Western Sahara region.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares renewed his country’s support during a meeting with UN Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Staffan de Mistura

“I have met with the personal Envoy of the SG of the UN for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura. I have reiterated Spain’s support for your mission,” the Spanish FM said in a tweet.

Staffan de Mistura held a series of talks with European officials, including Belgium foreign minister Hadja Lahbib.

The meetings came three weeks before the Security Council voted on a new resolution to extend the peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara MINURSO’s mandate.

The Security Council vote will follow the release of the UN Secretary-General’s report on Western Sahara, which is expected to be published online in the coming days.

The report briefs the international community about the situation in the Western Sahara region, taking into account recommendations and reports from both Staffan de Mistura and the MINURSO mission in the region.

De Mistura is facing a nearly impossible mission, as he is tasked with reviving dialogue through roundtables by convening all main parties to the dispute.

De Mistura’s efforts, however, are met by Algeria and Polisario’s reluctance to engage in the UN-led political process, particularly in participating in roundtables as a member to the conflict.

In September, Algeria’s regime declined to take part in future roundtables, suggesting that this process should only be between Morocco and Polisario, despite Algeria’s extensive support for the separatist group which could not exist without Algiers’ support..

Morocco’s government has urged the Algerian regime — which hosts, finances, backs, and arms the Polisario Front — to assume its responsibility and take part in the UN process to contribute to finding an agreed-upon and mutually acceptable solution.

Morocco also renewed its determination to take part in UN initiatives but frequently emphasized that a solution to end the dispute should be based on its serious and credible Autonomy Plan presented to the Security Council in 2007.

The North African country also recalled that the autonomy initiative has generated a positive chorus of support, including from the US, Spain, The Netherlands, and Germany, among others.

Spain endorsed Morocco’s Autonomy Plan in March 2022, while the US recognized Rabat’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara region in December 2020.