Algeria backs UN mediation in Western Sahara as talks near
Algeria’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf met with the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, as preparations begin for the UN Security Council’s October session on the territory, as reported by AL24 News on September 16.
The Algerian Foreign Ministry said Attaf pledged Algeria’s “full support” for UN efforts to reach a “just, lasting and final solution” guaranteeing the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination in line with UN resolutions.
Attaf emphasized that all initiatives must remain under UN guidance and lead to “direct and unconditional negotiations” between Morocco and the Polisario Front, reaffirming Algeria’s commitment to the UN decolonization doctrine and praising MINURSO’s role in completing decolonization of what it calls Africa’s last colony.
The meeting comes amid heightened regional tensions, as UN officials have recently voiced alarm over deteriorating human rights conditions in Western Sahara, including restricted access for observers and alleged property seizures. This is illustrated by Morocco’s expulsion of international activists and ongoing crackdowns on Sahrawi civil society.
International analysts note that Algeria’s stance reflects both principle and regional rivalry. A recent analysis by the International Crisis Group describes how unresolved tensions between Algeria and Morocco complicate the UN envoy’s mission, while Atalayar reports that de Mistura has identified both Morocco and Algeria as the primary actors in the conflict, reinforcing calls for Algiers to play a more direct negotiating role.
As the October Security Council session approaches, Algeria’s strong endorsement of UN mediation underscores its intent to keep Western Sahara on the international agenda. Whether these diplomatic signals translate into substantive negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front remains to be seen, but Algiers’ message is clear: any settlement must emerge through the UN framework and guarantee the Sahrawi people the right to decide their own future.
AL24 News, International Crisis Group, Atalayar, Maghrebi.org
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