DR ‹ › The United Nations Security Council convened a closed-door meeting on Thursday, focusing on the operations of the MINURSO mission under Bahrain's rotating presidency. During this session, Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General's personal envoy to the Sahara, delivered a briefing. As reported by Monte Carlo Doualiya, de Mistura highlighted a "genuine momentum" and a "chance" to resolve the conflict that has lingered since 1975. He remarked, «Thanks to a combination of vision, timing, and good fortune, I believe there is real momentum in this path and an opportunity to resolve this decades-long conflict.» De Mistura commended Morocco for its detailed presentation of the autonomy plan and Rabat's willingness to engage with the Polisario Front. The UN has long awaited specifics on this proposal. The envoy urged the Polisario to "make the necessary historical concessions to find a mutually acceptable solution" for the benefit of "future Sahrawi generations." He acknowledged the Front's reluctance, attributing it to "a lack of trust" concerning its future role in regional governance and the security of its members. De Mistura expressed optimism about reconvening all parties "before October," aiming to "reach a framework agreement, define mechanisms for ratification in line with self-determination, and establish a transitional implementation process." This meeting aligns with the implementation of UN Resolution 2797, adopted six months ago, which underscores the necessity of advancing the political process towards a realistic, practical, and sustainable solution based on Morocco's 2007 autonomy initiative. The Security Council plans a follow-up session on April 30 to evaluate the strategy concerning the MINURSO mission mandate. Previously, the U.S. administration announced its intention to "end ineffective peacekeeping and special political missions worldwide." Recently, Mike Waltz, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, indicated during his Congressional testimony on UN reform, «We are conducting a strategic review of the peacekeeping force deployed in Western Sahara for 50 years.»
