By . Abdellah Mechnoune
In his latest briefing to the Security Council on April 14, 2025, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura delivered a statement reflecting a relative shift in the United Nations’ approach to the Moroccan Sahara file. His clear reference to the “serious autonomy initiative” as a basis for a consensual solution signals a gradual move toward political realism, considering the current geopolitical and regional developments.
The renewed U.S. support, voiced by Secretary of State Robero and echoing Trump’s 2020 declaration, has breathed new life into Morocco’s initiative. Conversely, De Mistura implicitly acknowledged the separatist agenda’s inability to offer a viable prospect—especially amid stalled negotiations, worsening humanitarian conditions in the Tindouf camps, and growing frustration among younger generations.
While attempting to maintain rhetorical balance by emphasizing the need for both parties’ agreement, De Mistura explicitly noted that any solution must be pragmatic, involving the delegation of genuine powers and the direct involvement of major global powers. This once again raises the issue of Algeria’s responsibility as the sponsor and financier of the Polisario Front in hindering progress toward a resolution.
The year 2025, which marks fifty years since the Sahara issue was placed on the UN agenda, poses a real test for the international community: either push for a serious political process grounded in reality and regional stability, or persist in managing the crisis with outdated mechanisms.
This latest briefing reveals a relative evolution in UN discourse—acknowledging new global dynamics and the urgency of a practical political solution, with Morocco’s autonomy proposal at its core. Yet, the UN remains cautious in assigning responsibility, leaving room for Algeria and the Polisario to prolong the stalemate—unless strong international will, particularly from Washington and Paris, breaks with the usual UN hesitation.
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