According to informed sources, the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Sahara, Stefan De Mistura, arrived at Hassan I Airport in Laâyoune, coming from the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott, before heading to the Tindouf camps in Algeria. This visit is part of a tour that has included Morocco and Mauritania, and is expected to include Algeria in the coming days. This tour is of great significance as it could mark a turning point in the UN-led negotiations on the regional conflict that has lasted for decades.
Is this visit a turning point in the issue?
The visit comes just ahead of an important session of the UN Security Council scheduled for April 14, 2025, where De Mistura is expected to brief the members on the latest developments in the conflict and the UN’s efforts to revive the political process. But what are the real stakes of this visit?
During his stop in Laâyoune, De Mistura held a brief meeting with Alexander Ivanko, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the Sahara and head of MINURSO, before continuing his journey to Tindouf. How can these meetings help move the stalled negotiation process forward?
Mauritania’s position: Is a recognition on the horizon?
On the other hand, De Mistura’s visit to Mauritania reflects the evolving position of Nouakchott on the Moroccan Sahara issue. His meeting with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani reaffirmed Mauritania’s support for UN efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. However, could Mauritania soon officially recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara?
Predictions suggest that Mauritania may soon end its neutrality policy and join Morocco’s side, which would be a significant blow to the Polisario Front and its supporter, Algeria.
Is Algeria concerned?
While Algeria is trying to win Mauritania over with promises of joint development projects, the question arises: will it succeed in preventing Nouakchott from officially supporting Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara? Algeria seems concerned about this rapprochement, fearing that Mauritania will join the list of countries supporting the Moroccan autonomy proposal under Moroccan sovereignty, which would be a strategic victory for Morocco.
The role of France and the United States in supporting the Moroccan solution
On the international stage, the situation appears to be shifting in Morocco’s favor. De Mistura’s visit to Morocco last week, where he met with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, highlighted the ongoing international support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, particularly from France and the United States. France, which will chair the next UN Security Council session, is a key ally for Morocco on this issue, while the United States, under President Donald Trump, has strongly backed Morocco’s autonomy proposal.
Will Algeria change its position or remain firm?
Despite these developments, Algeria continues to oppose the Moroccan initiative. But what will its response be if the major powers continue to support the Moroccan solution? Will Algeria persist in its opposition as the international situation may turn in Morocco’s favor?
De Mistura’s current tour could be decisive, as it puts the international community in a position where a final solution to this long-standing conflict is required. Will this mission mark the near end of the conflict, or will the political horizon remain closed?
