United Nations envoy Staffan de Mistura has launched a new regional tour covering Algeria, Morocco, the Tindouf camps and Mauritania, ahead of his October briefing to the Security Council on the Western Sahara conflict.
According to diplomatic sources, the envoy began his trip in Algiers, where he met Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf and other senior officials.
Analysts said the tone of Algeria’s official statement hinted at unease with emerging proposals that move beyond the UN Secretariat’s traditional framework, especially given Washington’s continued support for Morocco’s autonomy plan as the “only realistic and credible solution.”
Aba Sheikh Baali, member of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs, told Hespress that Algeria’s insistence on presenting itself as a “mere observer” lacks credibility, since the international community views it as a direct party to the conflict.
He argued that Algiers’ praise for MINURSO as a referendum mission signals an attempt to revive an approach long sidelined by the UN, which now increasingly emphasizes Morocco’s autonomy offer.
For Morocco, observers noted, October’s Security Council session could mark a turning point.
Baali stressed that the upcoming resolution is unlikely to serve Algeria or the Polisario Front, pointing instead to U.S.-led efforts, backed by other powers, to consolidate autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty. He also underlined the significance of Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita’s planned visit to China as part of efforts to secure support among permanent Council members.
Abdel Fattah Belamachi, director of the Moroccan Center for Parallel Diplomacy, said the context differs markedly from past years. He cited Morocco’s military and legal gains, including securing the Guerguerat crossing, as well as major investments in ports and infrastructure in the southern provinces, as proof of Rabat’s seriousness.
He added that De Mistura must reflect these “new realities” in his report, warning that reliance on outdated approaches has only perpetuated the stalemate.
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