In recent days, the Polisario Front has stepped up its media presence, signaling a willingness to engage in negotiations with Morocco over the Sahara conflict. Yesterday, Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, the Polisario's so-called «Foreign Minister», told the Spanish news agency EFE that the Front is «prepared» to negotiate with Morocco regarding the future of Western Sahara, though they are still waiting for a timetable to be set for these talks. Speaking at a conference in Algeria, he noted that they are «still waiting» for Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General's personal envoy to Western Sahara, to contact them or visit in order to establish a work agenda. Just a few days earlier, Brahim Ghali met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres during the seventh African Union–European Union summit. Ghali reiterated the Polisario Front's readiness to negotiate under UN auspices to «create conditions for the Sahrawi people to make a sovereign decision about their future». The Front continues to position itself as a direct counterpart to Morocco in this long-standing dispute. Morocco, meanwhile, maintains that Algeria must be involved in any negotiations—an approach reinforced by the recent UN Security Council Resolution 2797. The separatist movement has repeatedly rejected negotiations based on Morocco's autonomy proposal for the Sahara. Following the adoption of the resolution, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura stressed at a press conference that the text «clearly identifies the concerned parties: Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria, and Mauritania». He added that the resolution refers to the «principle of self-determination» alongside an «explicit reference to Moroccan sovereignty». De Mistura underlined the «need for a mutually agreed solution», calling for «genuine autonomy—not just autonomy, but actual autonomy». He went on to say, «We are now waiting for Morocco to present an advanced and updated autonomy plan», while noting that other parties are equally encouraged to «submit proposals and suggestions to help the United Nations prepare a program for direct—or, if necessary, indirect—discussions». In a speech marking the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797, King Mohammed VI affirmed that Morocco will refine and detail the autonomy initiative and present it to the United Nations as the sole basis for negotiation, describing it as a realistic and workable solution.
