De Mistura’s Briefing: A Diplomatic Opportunity for Morocco… But Caution is Essential
On April 14, the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Moroccan Sahara, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, presented a briefing before the Security Council, which can be described as a critical and pivotal moment, laden with strategic implications and messages directed at the key players, not only in the context of the regional conflict but also in the shifting balance of international positions regarding the future of this file.
The most notable aspect of the briefing was the reaffirmation of the centrality of the Moroccan autonomy proposal, which the United States has renewed its support for, describing it as "serious and credible." The significance of this statement lies not only in its direct content but is further enhanced by the context of continuous confirmation of the American position, established since President Donald Trump’s announcement in 2020, and maintained under President Biden, affirming that the U.S. stance on the Sahara issue has become a consistent element of American foreign policy, rather than merely a transient option of a specific administration.
It is worth noting that this briefing took place within the framework of recalling the references for a political solution as defined by recent Security Council resolutions, which call for a realistic, practical, and sustainable resolution based on consensus. In this context, any objective reading of the briefing’s content indicates that the Moroccan autonomy initiative remains the only framework that aligns with these objective conditions.
Furthermore, de Mistura’s call for "greater clarification" regarding the nature of the powers that will be granted to the local entity within the autonomy framework opens space for Rabat to reinforce its institutional vision for this proposal, establishing Morocco as a significant actor with the necessary institutional and political maturity to secure a mature and sustainable solution.
However, a close examination of the language used in the briefing reveals a recurring reference to the concept of "self-determination," which slightly differs from the realistic approach that the international political process is supposed to adhere to. While Rabat is seriously and responsibly engaged in this pathway, holding on to its sovereign constants, hostile parties, notably Algeria and the Polisario, seek to exploit this concept to impose a separatist option that reality has surpassed and that is outdated in the context of contemporary international relations.
Moreover, de Mistura’s mention of a "reliable mechanism for self-determination," without specifying its nature or legal and political framework, opens the door to interpretations that could fuel secessionist rhetoric, which necessitates that Moroccan diplomacy continues to maintain a balance between positive engagement and confronting attempts to circumvent the established international references.
The humanitarian paragraph with which de Mistura concluded his briefing, which included a narrative about a young woman who "buried her parents and grandparents in the sands of Tindouf," and another young woman who does not want her children to be buried there, carries a deep humanitarian significance; however, it also harbors a political message aimed at stirring the file through emotion, at a time when addressing the conflict requires a cold realism and historical responsibility.
In this regard, the Moroccan narrative, bolstered by data and reports, is expected to parallel this trend by highlighting the detention conditions in the camps, describing how their inhabitants are deprived of their most basic rights, including freedom of movement and expression, and exposing the manipulation of international aid and the recruitment of children.
De Mistura announced that the next three months will be crucial in shaping a new roadmap, aiming for October. In doing so, he places the parties before a test of intentions and indirectly calls on them to move beyond a logic of waiting and political maneuvering towards actual solutions.
This context dictates that Morocco continue its approach of clarity and balance, with active diplomatic efforts aimed at detailing the content of the autonomy proposal and rallying international allies around it, not only as a sovereign solution but as a progressive model for local power-sharing within a unified national framework that meets the standards of good governance demanded by international organizations.
While de Mistura’s briefing did not introduce any groundbreaking developments, it positioned everyone at a new crossroads: either advance towards a realistic political solution that considers the realities of geography and history, or remain hostage to emotional and crisis-driven rhetoric that seeks to recreate separatist illusions that have no place in the current international system.
Morocco, with its steadfastness, credibility, and forward-looking vision, not only faces a separatist front lacking any representative legitimacy, but also contends with the remnants of hesitant international approaches that should clearly engage in the logic of political justice, rather than merely adopt formal neutrality. This moment is decisive in the narrative of the conflict, and all players, including international decision-makers, must read the signals correctly and choose the right position on the chessboard of this historical struggle.
