U.S. presidential adviser for African and Middle Eastern affairs Massad Boulos has reaffirmed Washington’s support for efforts to reach a lasting political settlement to the Sahara dispute, saying any solution should be acceptable to the parties involved.
Boulos made the remarks following a meeting with Rosemary DiCarlo, the U.N. undersecretary-general for political and peacebuilding affairs, during which the two officials discussed several regional issues, including developments in Libya and Sudan and the Sahara dispute.
In a post on X, Boulos stressed the importance of advancing efforts toward a lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 2797.
The resolution, adopted in October 2025, extended the mandate of the U.N. Mission for the Referendum in the Sahara (MINURSO) until Oct. 31, 2026. It also called on the parties to engage in discussions without preconditions, taking Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal as the basis for negotiations toward a final and mutually acceptable political solution that provides for the self-determination of the people of Sahara.
Boulos’ remarks come amid continued coordination between Washington and the United Nations over the dispute.
Christopher Thornton, senior political adviser to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres’ Personal Envoy for the Sahara Staffan de Mistura, previously told Hespress that de Mistura “continues to work closely with the U.S. administration.”
Thornton also cited cooperation with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz and Boulos, saying the personal envoy’s consultations with the parties were aimed at creating the conditions necessary for a mutually acceptable settlement.
The U.N. official identified continued incidents of armed violence and a lack of trust among the parties as two major obstacles to advancing the political process.
The renewed U.S. position underscores Washington’s continued engagement with the U.N.-led diplomatic process as de Mistura seeks to build momentum toward renewed negotiations.
Resolution 2797 has given the political process added momentum by calling for negotiations based on Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal while maintaining the requirement for a final political solution consistent with the U.N. Charter and providing for the self-determination of the people of the Sahara.
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