In a new letter sent to the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Polisario head Brahim Ghali addressed the «the independence and impartiality of MINURSO». He urged Guterres to «take all necessary decisions and measures to guarantee that all its military, political and administrative activities are carried out in line with basic standards of UN peacekeeping». Meanwhile, Ghali complained in his letter about the fact that «the SRSG and Head of MINURSO cannot meet with the Polisario in liberated territories». In his letter, he recalled that his movement has already met with UN representatives in these areas. In March 2016, former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, while visiting the Tindouf camps, went to Tifariti and delivered a speech there. However, with the election of Guterres, things have changed. The UN has since then avoided endorsing the Polisario's military presence in the areas east of the Security Wall. In his letter, Ghali also asked the Portuguese diplomat to «initiate a serious political process based on a clear and solid foundation that is consistent with relevant principles of international law and directed towards achieving a peaceful and lasting solution based on the consent of the Sahrawi people expressed through a credible and genuine process of self-determination».
