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Rabat – Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Omar Hilale, stated today that any evaluation of the UN’s role in resolving the Moroccan Sahara dispute should remain strictly under the purview of the UN Secretary-General and the Security Council, not the Personal Envoy.
The ambassador’s remarks came in response to a recent statement by Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Sahara, suggesting that the UN should reconsider its approach to the Sahara conflict if no progress is achieved within six months.
Hilale clarified that de Mistura’s mandate does not extend to evaluating the UN’s role. “The responsibility to reassess the UN’s engagement lies solely with the Secretary-General and Security Council members,” Hilale stated firmly.
The ambassador further elaborated that de Mistura’s primary responsibility is to facilitate negotiations between Morocco and the involved parties, aligning with his appointment’s original purpose.
To do so effectively, the ambassador emphasized on the fact that the Personal Envoy must adhere to UN protocols, follow Security Council resolutions, and demonstrate authoritative leadership.
“The UN’s facilitation guide highlights that a mediator’s role is twofold: to implement their mandate and to assert clear authority,” Hilale noted.
Urging de Mistura to adopt a more proactive approach, Hilale called on the envoy to restart the roundtable process and “exercise the necessary authority.”
The ambassador suggested that previous envoys, including Christopher Ross and Horst Köhler, effectively leveraged their authority, convening negotiations without seeking approval from Algeria or other involved parties on logistical details.
“We expect Mr. de Mistura to show the same resolve and independence in executing his mandate,” Hilale said.
Addressing the broader situation, Hilale asserted that Morocco is not actively seeking to assess the UN’s role in the Sahara process, but anticipates that by April, tangible progress should be evident through the resumption of roundtables.
He acknowledged Switzerland’s recent offer to host the next meeting in Geneva, emphasizing that “the venue is ready; now we need the Personal Envoy to demonstrate his authority and advance his mandate.”
