Morocco considered, on Friday, that the UN Security Council’s decision to extend the mandate of the UN mission in the Sahara region for an additional year, identifies the “real” parties to the conflict.
This came in the words of Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, in a press conference, following the decision to extend the mandate of the MINURSO mission, until October 31, 2022.
Bourita said, “The resolution provides answers to the maneuvers that were before it was taken (…) and identifies the real parties to the conflict, and that Algeria has a responsibility in the conflict.”
He added: “There was a mobilization from other parties, especially Algeria, which demanded a reconsideration of a number of matters.”
And he added, “Especially since Algeria submitted a letter to the Security Council on October 21, stressing the insignificance of the round table.”
And he added: “The response of the Security Council (..) was that the round tables with the participation of all parties (in reference to Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria and Mauritania) are the only mechanism for managing the series.”
And he continued, “It must be followed up by Staffan de Mistura, the Secretary-General’s special envoy to the Sahara.”
The Moroccan diplomat stated, “The Security Council considered that Algeria is required to participate responsibly and constructively in the process of finding a solution.”
There was no immediate comment from the Algerian authorities about Bourita’s statements, but she usually denies that she is a party to the conflict.
A few days ago, Algeria announced its withdrawal from participating in the so-called “round table” (the gathering of Morocco and the Polisario, in the presence of Algeria and Mauritania as two notable neighbors) in the negotiations on the Sahara region.
Rabat insists on its right to the Sahara region, and proposes an expanded autonomy solution under its sovereignty, while the Polisario demands the organization of a referendum for self-determination, a proposal supported by Algeria, which hosts refugees from the region.
The United Nations has been supervising negotiations between Morocco and the “Polisario” in search of a final solution to the conflict over the territory since the two parties signed a ceasefire agreement in 1991.
