Algerian PM receives UN envoy to Western Sahara

Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia yesterday received the new UN envoy to the Western Sahara, Horst Kohler, the Algerian government said in a brief statement.

“The meeting was held in the presence of Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel,” the statement said. No further details were given.

Discussions on #Western_Sahara with the Personal Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations Horst Kohler pic.twitter.com/TtyLnkvCIS

— Abdelkader Messahel (@Messahel_MAE) October 21, 2017

After years of stalemate, on 16 August UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appointed Kohler as his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara in an effort to revive talks between Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front. Kohler is the former president of the Federal Republic of Germany.

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Kohler arrived in Algeria on Saturday evening and met with Polisario leaders in the Tindouf refugee camp, southwest of the country. He had visited Morocco on 16 October and met with King Mohammed VI.

The official will end his tour in Mauritania today.