Massad Boulos, a special advisor to President Donald Trump on African affairs, is poised to «to embark on a tour of the Maghreb in the coming days», reported an English-language media outlet. According to high-level diplomatic sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, this visit is part of a broader U.S. initiative aimed at reasserting its influence in North Africa and the Sahel. The focus of this initiative is on conflict resolution, emphasizing a «trade not aid» approach as Washington redefines its African strategy. The forthcoming tour will emphasize high-level consultations, with the goal of establishing a foundation for future peace initiatives. This move comes after several months of discreet yet consistent diplomatic engagements with key regional stakeholders. The success of Washington's diplomatic re-engagement in the region hinges on Boulos's ability to inject positive momentum into long-stalled peace processes, the same source added. It is worth recalling that in April, Massad Boulos stirred tensions in Morocco by stating that «200,000 Sahrawi refugees living in Algeria are still awaiting a definitive solution». He later clarified his comments in an interview with Medi 1 TV, asserting that the Trump administration is committed to pursuing «a lasting solution» to the Sahara issue, based on the Moroccan autonomy proposal as the sole framework for negotiating a mutually acceptable resolution. This stance aligns with an April 8 statement from American diplomacy following discussions between Marco Rubio and Nasser Bourita. Furthermore, the Trump administration is expected to introduce a new draft resolution on the Western Sahara issue to the UN Security Council by late October. This text is eagerly anticipated by Morocco, Algeria, and the Polisario Front.
