Continuing shooting incidents and a lack of trust remain obstacles to a lasting Sahara settlement, a senior UN official said ahead of the next Security Council briefing, while confirming that envoy Staffan de Mistura continues to work closely with Washington.
Christopher Thornton, the envoy’s senior political adviser, said consultations with the parties sought to “create the necessary foundations for a mutually acceptable solution.”
“The personal envoy is focused on addressing these two factors as part of his efforts to create conditions conducive to a settlement,” Thornton said, referring to shooting incidents and mistrust.
He also expressed appreciation for cooperation with U.S. Ambassador Michael Waltz and senior adviser Massad Boulos. Thornton did not announce new meetings or give a date for negotiations to resume.
His remarks drew different interpretations from two Moroccan academics, who agreed that continued American involvement remained important to the process.
Abdelfattah El Belamachi, president of the Moroccan Center for Parallel Diplomacy and Dialogue of Civilizations, cautioned against reading the comments as a retreat from earlier diplomatic progress.
He argued that Thornton’s assessment should be considered alongside previous statements by de Mistura and the positions governments have taken within the Security Council.
El Belamachi cited Resolution 2797 as a reference for the settlement process and said he saw no substantial reversal in Washington’s official position. Public rhetoric, he added, may not fully reflect the substance of confidential diplomatic contacts.
“Assessing the next phase requires distinguishing between individual statements and the broader direction established by states’ positions and Security Council resolutions,” he said.
Zakaria Aknouch, a professor at Moulay Ismail University in Meknes, emphasized the practical obstacles Thornton identified, arguing that continued firing and entrenched political differences could undermine diplomatic momentum.
He attributed the shooting to the Polisario Front and said reducing tensions on the ground should accompany efforts to prepare substantive negotiations. Thornton’s comments, as provided, did not assign responsibility for individual incidents.
Aknouch interpreted the coordination with Waltz and Boulos as evidence that the UN was drawing on American influence to help overcome the limits of mediation.
He called for stronger monitoring, clearer negotiating objectives and a timetable capable of turning international support into practical progress.
In his assessment, Morocco’s autonomy proposal offers a realistic basis for those talks. That proposal would provide self-government under Moroccan sovereignty.
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