UN Security Council holds consultations on Sahara

The UN Security Council members hold this Wednesday a closed-doors meeting to discuss the situation in the Sahara. They are expected to be briefed by UN Envoy for the Sahara Staffan de Mistura and Minurso Chief Alexander Ivanko.

Prior to these consultations, the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General for the Sahara met separately in New York with the representatives of Morocco, Algeria, Polisario and Mauritania as well as with the representatives of France, Spain, Russia, UK and the United States, the penholder on the Sahara.

Today’s meeting of the Security Council comes amid a growing international support to the autonomy plan offered by Morocco under its sovereignty.

In December 2020, the United States recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over its entire Saharan territory. Spain, Germany and many other European, African and Arab countries all support Morocco’s territorial integrity and autonomy plan described as the “most serious, realistic and credible” solution to the Sahara regional dispute.

According to UN, De Mistura remains hopeful that a just, lasting and political solution to the Sahara issue in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions is achievable.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman has called lately on Algeria –which arms, funds and shelters the Polisario separatist group– to foster stability in the region and support the efforts of UN Sahara envoy to advance an enduring political solution to the Sahara conflict.