Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, held a meeting on Monday in Rabat with the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, within the framework of ongoing consultations surrounding the Sahara issue.
The meeting is part of the regional tour undertaken by the UN envoy, who is currently engaging with various stakeholders in the region.
The meeting, which took place in the presence of Omar Hilale, Morocco’s permanent representative to the United Nations, addressed a range of topics, with particular emphasis on the growing international support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and the autonomy proposal put forward in 2007 under the leadership of King Mohammed VI.
Morocco, which stands firmly on the side of international legality, steadfastly defends its territorial integrity and sovereignty, receiving consistent and robust support from the global community in its efforts to resolve a conflict that has persisted for nearly five decades.
In his address on November 6, 2024, marking the 49th anniversary of the Green March, King Mohammed VI urged the United Nations to “take their responsibility” and highlighted the stark contrast between two opposing paradigms: the one represented by Morocco in its Sahara, grounded in realism and legitimacy, and the other, based on an outdated vision that is increasingly disconnected from the evolving reality of the world.
During the discussions with Antonio Guterres’ Personal Envoy, both Nasser Bourita and Omar Hilale reiterated Morocco’s unwavering support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his envoy, emphasizing the Kingdom’s commitment to finding a political, realistic, pragmatic, and sustainable solution exclusively based on the Moroccan Initiative for Autonomy, while maintaining the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It is important to note that Staffan de Mistura’s visit comes just days before informal consultations at the UN Security Council. This regional tour is conducted in anticipation of a key meeting scheduled for mid-April, as announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the forthcoming Security Council meeting, a briefing will be delivered not only by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, but also by Alexander Ivanko, the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General and the head of the MINURSO mission, to update the Security Council members on the latest developments in the Sahara.
Prior to this, both French and American delegations visited Laâyoune to meet with representatives from MINURSO. These two permanent members of the Security Council sent delegations to assess the situation on the ground, particularly in light of recent developments.
In late January, a delegation from the US military, attached to the American Embassy in Rabat, visited Laâyoune and the town of Mahbès to monitor the situation along the border, which has seen a series of attacks and acts of aggression by the Polisario militia.
This delegation engaged in discussions with Alexander Ivanko and Major General Fakhrul Ahsan, commander of the MINURSO mission, according to sources close to the matter.
Last week, a group of French diplomats and security officials from the French Embassy in Rabat also made a visit to the Sahara, where they held discussions with MINURSO representatives as part of their ongoing monitoring and involvement in the issue of the Sahara.
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