Sahara : De Mistura aligns with roadmap outlined by the Trump administration
This note of «optimism» comes just days after De Mistura's April 9 meetin g in Washington with a former member of the Trump administration. Following this encounter, and according to leaked information, UN Secretary-General Antanio Guterres has extended De Mistura's mandate for another year, through the end of 2026. An official announcement is expected in the coming days.
To recall, the Italian-Swedish diplomat had expressed a desire to resign last October during a meeting of the Security Council's 15 members.
The Trump Factor
This development follows renewed support from the Trump-era political sphere for Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara. The United States has also called on all parties to engage in negotiations based on Morocco's autonomy initiative, within the framework of the kingdom's sovereignty.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio reaffirmed, in a statement following his April 8 meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, «President Trump's urging for the parties to engage in discussions without delay, using Morocco's Autonomy Proposal as the only framework, to negotiate a mutually acceptable solution». De Mistura's proposed roadmap appears to align with this approach.
After the Security Council session on April 14, the Polisario Front insisted that «the Western Sahara issue remains on the United Nations agenda, despite Moroccan propaganda».
Just hours earlier, Morocco's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Omar Hilale, told Medi1 TV that he hoped the 50th anniversary of the Green March, to be marked on November 6, 2025, would be celebrated «under better conditions».
«As De Mistura mentioned, the coming months will be crucial for resolving the conflict», a Moroccan source close to the dossier told Yabiladi. «Morocco is actively working to have the issue removed from the UN's Fourth Committee, pointing out that it was the kingdom that originally filed the matter—before the creation of the Polisario and even before Algeria's independence—so that it would be treated as a regional dispute primarily involving Morocco and Algeria».
This Moroccan push faces resistance from Algeria. Between April 2 and 10, the Algerian ambassador in Moscow held three meetings with senior Russian diplomats in an effort to counter Morocco's momentum. Algiers is relying on Moscow's support to mitigate its diplomatic losses and maintain its position.
So far, Russia has not commented on the United States' reaffirmation of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara on April 8. Moscow had previously criticized former President Donald Trump's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty on December 10, 2020.
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