Sahara: UN ignores Algeria’s blackmail, insists on involvement of all parties in political process

Despite Algeria’s repeated blackmail over the Moroccan Sahara dispute, the United Nations has once again insisted on the paramount importance of the involvement of all parties in the UN-led political process.

This was reaffirmed by the UN Secretary-General’s deputy spokesman Farhan Haq during his daily briefing on Wednesday.

To a question on Algeria’s latest decision, rejecting Resolution 2602, that has been adopted by the Security Council, the UN official said “we believe that there is still a possibility for all parties and regional actors to meet” in the framework of the political process on the Sahara issue.

Farhan Haq further revealed that the UN Secretary-General’s new Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, will discuss with “all parties and all concerned states in the region” for the resumption of this process.

The Security Council in its most recent resolution on the Sahara adopted on Oct.29, asks de Mistura to facilitate the political process of roundtable discussions, with its four participants, namely Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the polisario.

Algeria is considered by the Security Council as a party to the Sahara conflict, as stated in its latest resolutions, including Resolution 2602 of Oct.29. Algeria is mentioned five times, as many times as Morocco, and is urged to participate in the roundtable meetings.