The UN envoy to Western Sahara‚ Staffan de Mistura has put forward a plan to divide the disputed territory between Morocco and the Polisario Front. This suggestion‚ made during a closed UN Security Council meeting aims to end a conflict thats been going on for decades
De Misturaʼs proposal would create an independent state in the southern part while integrating the rest with Morocco. This idea isnt new – it echoes a never-implemented agreement from 45 years ago when Mauritania left the region. James Baker a former envoy also suggested something similar about two decades back
However both Morocco and Polisario have shown little interest in exploring this option further. The plan would place Laayoune (the territorys largest city) in the north‚ and Dakhla in the south. Yet it doesnt fully satisfy either sides long-standing demands: Morocco wont negotiate sovereignty‚ while Polisario insists on self-determination through a referendum
The UN has been trying to solve this issue since the 70s. In 1991 it helped negotiate a settlement that included a cease-fire and a peacekeeping mission to organize a vote on the former Spanish colonys future. But progress has been slow under various UN envoys
De Mistura plans to keep working for six more months before returning for consultations next year. He warned that lack of progress “might rightly raise questions as to the future modalities of the United Nations facilitation of the political process on Western Sahara“
Western Sahara – a phosphate-rich region in northwest Africa has been considered a “non-self-governing“ territory by the UN since 10/17/1963. Morocco controls most of it calling it its “southern provinces“‚ while Polisario (operating from refugee camps in Algeria) sees itself as a government-in-exile
• Low-intensity hostilities have occurred since Polisario withdrew from the cease-fire in 2020
• Moroccos allies including the US‚ France and Spain support its 2006 autonomy plan
• The plan falls short of offering independence to the disputed territory
The situation remains complex with no clear resolution in sight – a reminder of the challenges in resolving long-standing territorial disputes