De Mistura says Morocco must clarify its autonomy plan

United Nations (EFE).- Staffan de Mistura, the UN Special Envoy for Western Sahara, stressed before the Security Council yesterday that “the time has come for Morocco to explain and detail its autonomy proposal”, He reiterated something he said “respectfully but firmly” to the Rabat government.

In his presentation to the council yesterday behind closed doors, to which the media had access today, de Mistura showed his impatience with blocking the peace process between Morocco and the Sahrawi independence group Polisario Front, and confessed that he had supported the division. Was also proposed. The Saharawi region between the north, which would belong to Morocco, and the south, which would become an independent state, but he regretted receiving refusals from both sides.

Presentation by UN Envoy

He devoted a large part of his presentation to exploring the idea of ​​Moroccan autonomy – which Polisario clearly rejects – and said that it had worked in different places in the world such as Greenland, Alto Adige or Scotland, but that It still remains to be known what Morocco has proposed for the Sahara beyond the “three-page plan” presented in 2007.

De Mistura said the plan has created expectations “and even the right to better understand what it involves”, among those affected, as well as the Security Council and the UN Secretary-General, and even That right is shared by countries that are either unilateralists or have endorsed it as a principle.

“It must be made clear how this option can provide some kind of dignified form of self-determination for the people of the Sahara, and under what methodology,” de Mistura stressed to the council, before reminding again that That Morocco “must provide details about its vision.”

Almost 50 years have passed since the beginning of the conflict

De Mistura concluded his speech by recalling that 2025 will mark 50 years since the beginning of the conflict and that if six months from now there is no progress between the parties – who do not even sit at the same table – , then it would be legitimate to ask for the continued involvement of the United Nations in this process.

The United Nations sent a mission to the Sahara (MINURSO) in 1991 to organize a self-determination referendum, but Morocco subsequently erected obstacles to that referendum and since 2007 has only offered a vague proposal for autonomy.

Since then, MINURSO has been left with the sole task of observing the ceasefire, which has been broken sporadically by both sides.