NEW YORK: The UN ambassador for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, has presented an idea of dividing the territory between Morocco and the Polisario Front as a solution to the long-standing dispute between Morrocco and Algeria.
The conflict, dating back to 1975, pits Morocco, which considers Western Sahara as its own territory, while Algeria-backed Polisario Front independence movement, seeks a separate state there.
Morocco says it can offer a political solution to the conflict, while the armed Polisario Front insists on holding a referendum in the region for independence.
As per reports de Mistura, a veteran Italian diplomat, in a briefing to the Security Council behind closed doors has said that partition “could allow for the creation on the one hand of an independent state in the southern part, and on the other hand the integration of the rest of the Territory as part of Morocco, with its sovereignty over it internationally recognized.”
He noted that neither Morocco nor the Polisario Front accepted the proposal. De Mistura added the UN Secretary-General should reconsider the usefulness of his role as an envoy if no progress was made in six months.
The UN Security Council in its resolutions has been calling on the parties to work together towards a mutually acceptable political solution to the conflict, and described Morocco’s autonomy plan as “serious and credible”.
In July, France became the second permanent Security Council member after the US to back Morocco’s sovereignty over the area. Algeria strongly reacted to the French position and recalled its ambassador to Paris.
