The UN special envoy for the Western SaharaStaffan de Mistura, has proposed for the first time a “partition” of the former Spanish colony into two territories, in such a way that Morocco retains control of the northern area and the south becomes considered an independent country.
This was stated by De Mistura in a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council in which he stated that this “commitment” on the one hand, it would allow Rabat to apply the autonomy plan and, on the other, “it would guarantee the right to self-determination of the population of Western Sahara,” according to a transcript to which Europa Press has had access.
As De Mistura recalled, this is not a new idea, since one of his predecessors, James Baker, raised more than two decades ago. According to this plan, the territories controlled by Mauritania in the 1970s under an agreement with Morocco would be taken as references.
“Some of the countries in the region and other areas have expressed interest in this possibility of dividing the territory,” said De Mistura, without going into details regarding the governments to which he refers.
He has made it clear, however, that there is “no sign” that Morocco or the Polisario Front are willing to study the idea, something that he “regrets” because he believes that “it deserves to be taken into account.”
De Mistura has appealed to a “sense of urgency” and has urged the parties to show “creativity” when seeking “mutually acceptable” solutions, since he has recognized that the historical conflict also leads to “implications” of a practical nature. , as would be demonstrated by the recent rulings of the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) that annul the trade and fishing agreements with Morocco.
Ask for “details” of Morocco’s plan
The envoy has warned that the stability and development of the entire area is at stake, the result of a conflict that acquires a “regional dimension”, as demonstrated by the fact that Algeria and Morocco currently do not have relations.
In recent months, Rabat has highlighted the growing international support for its autonomy plan and De Mistura has admitted that there are “bilateral initiatives” in this regard, giving as a “clear example” France’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara.
However, he has indicated that it is time for Morocco to “explain and expand” the aforementioned plan, since it is missing “details” in the “three-page plan” of King Mohamed VI. “The affected population has the right to know better what is proposed,” he added.
On the other hand, and taking into account that both the United Nations Charter and the whole of International Law require the “full application” of the right of self-determination for the Sahrawi population, he has also urged the Polisario Front to face it with “a spirit of realism” and commitment” the process.
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