As the United Nations Security Council prepares to review the Western Sahara issue, coordination between Paris and Rabat is intensifying. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot is expected to meet soon with UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura. While Washington applies political pressure on Algeria, Paris is concentrating on the technical aspects. As the United Nations Security Council prepares to review the Western Sahara issue, «coordination between Paris and Rabat is intensifying», reported Africa Intelligence on Tuesday, September 16. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot «is expected to soon meet» with Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General's personal envoy for Western Sahara, according to the same source. For context, the UN envoy met on September 5 in Washington with Massad Boulos, special advisor to former U.S. President Donald Trump on Africa. Following the meeting, the American official declared that «true autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only viable solution for Western Sahara». According to the French outlet, the United States and France appear to be dividing responsibilities. Washington is taking the political lead at the Security Council and exerting pressure on Algeria, the Polisario's main backer. «Paris is not in a position to convince Algiers to change its stance», the report notes, as relations between Paris and Algiers have been «reduced to the bare minimum». Paris handles the «technical aspect» The effect of U.S. pressure on Algeria is already visible. Since Massad Boulos's visit to Algiers at the end of July, the Algerian authorities have neither reacted to his statements nor to the message sent on August 2 by the U.S. president to King Mohammed VI on the occasion of Throne Day. The Polisario, for its part, has adjusted its rhetoric. It has toned down demands for «a self-determination referendum», «the independence of Western Sahara», and the «right to pursue and intensify its legitimate armed struggle». It has also set aside the 1988 settlement plan jointly drafted by the UN and the Organization of African Unity. France, meanwhile, is focusing on what it calls the «technical» dimension. According to Africa Intelligence, the Elysée has been working on «an amended and clarified autonomy plan». As early as July 28, the outlet reported that Paris wanted Morocco to present «a concrete timeline for the implementation of the 35 measures envisaged» in the autonomy proposal submitted to the Security Council in 2007. Paris is also encouraging Rabat to consider the «possible release of Sahrawi activists in detention», particularly members of the Gdeim Izik group. Their release has become a focal point of Polisario's international advocacy. Earlier this year, demonstrations were staged for weeks across French and Spanish cities, calling for the release of Sahrawi prisoners. The campaign was spearheaded by Claude Mangin, the wife of Naama Asfari, sentenced to 30 years for his role in the deadly events during the dismantling of the Gdeim Izik camp in Laâyoune in November 2010, and concluded outside Kenitra prison. In early October, the UN Secretary-General will deliver a detailed report to Security Council members on developments since the adoption of Resolution 2756 on October 31, 2024. Staffan de Mistura and Alexander Ivanko, head of MINURSO, will also brief the Council behind closed doors. The session is expected to culminate in the adoption of a new resolution—once again drafted by the United States.
