The United Nations Secretary-General’s personal envoy to the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, met with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi to discuss developments in the Sahara conflict and ongoing UN efforts to revive the political process.
The talks focused on diplomatic initiatives, including U.S.-backed consultations involving Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front, aimed at advancing a realistic and sustainable political solution to the decades-long dispute.
Humanitarian issues were also addressed, particularly conditions for refugees in the Tindouf camps. The discussion reviewed programs managed by UN agencies, including UNHCR, aimed at easing daily hardships, improving living conditions, and upholding human dignity.
In a social media post, Filippo Grandi said he was “pleased to meet my old friend and colleague Staffan de Mistura,” noting that talks covered “his vital efforts, supported by the U.S. mission to the United Nations, to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable solution to the Sahara issue.”
Grandi emphasized that UNHCR “remains ready to continue supporting these collective efforts,” reflecting the agency’s commitment to accompany both the humanitarian and political dimensions of the process.
The meeting comes amid renewed international engagement on the Sahara issue, as the UN seeks to leverage diplomatic and humanitarian channels to bring parties closer to a comprehensive resolution.
It precedes planned briefings to the UN Security Council in mid-April by de Mistura and the head of the UN Mission for the Referendum in the Sahara (MINURSO), Alexander Ivanko. De Mistura is expected to update members on political developments and consultations, while Ivanko will report on field operations and the progress of the UN-led political process.
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