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In a moment of diplomatic clarity, UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy Staffan de Mistura has publicly acknowledged Algeria as a principal actor in the Sahara conflict.
Speaking to the Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), de Mistura made it clear that the Sahara conflict pits Morocco against Algeria, with the Polisario militias referred to simply as “a group.”
This subtle yet powerful reframing challenges decades of diplomatic ambiguity and signals a shift in how the international community may approach the conflict, moving forward.
For years, Algeria has maintained the narrative of being a neutral player on the Sahara issue. Yet de Mistura’s remarks – delivered with the precision of a seasoned diplomat – undermine this posture, aligning with the view that Algeria is not merely an observer but a strategic stakeholder.
His choice of words reflects a growing consensus that the Polisario operates as a proxy for Algerian interests in the Maghreb.
This recognition is not without precedent. UN Security Council Resolution 2756, adopted in 2024, explicitly names Algeria five times as a party required to engage in negotiations. Algeria’s abstention from voting on the resolution- its first during its tenure as a non-permanent member- was widely interpreted as a diplomatic setback.
The resolution’s language, which calls for seizing “recent momentum” toward a mutually acceptable solution, implicitly supports Morocco’s autonomy initiative under its sovereignty.
According to Moroccan media reports, including Le360, de Mistura’s statement has been welcomed in Rabat as a long-overdue acknowledgment of the conflict’s true dynamics.
Analysts cited by the outlet argue that the envoy’s remarks dismantle Algeria’s long-standing attempt to internationalize the dispute while avoiding direct accountability. Moroccan diplomacy has often stressed that no progress towards a political solution can take place without the active participation of Algeria, as the main party perpetuating the conflict.
King Mohammed VI’s Throne Day speech on July 29, 2025, reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment to defending its territorial integrity while extending a hand to Algeria, calling for a “consensual” solution in which “there will be neither victor nor vanquished.”
This approach, centered around the autonomy plan as a win-win solution, offers a dignified exit from a conflict for Algeria which has stymied Maghreb integration and regional development for generations.
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