Morocco backs de Mistura as UN envoy for Western Sahara

Moroccos Ambassador to the UN Omar Hilale, listens during the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Porlamar, Margarita Island, Venezuela, on 16 September 2016. [RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images]

Morocco’s ambassador to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, announced on Wednesday that the Kingdom has agreed to the appointment of Italian-Swedish diplomat Staffan de Mistura as the Secretary-General’s envoy to disputed Western Sahara.

“Morocco was consulted beforehand about this appointment and has already notified Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of its approval,” explained Hilale. “The Kingdom’s approval stems from its constant trust and continuous support for the UN Secretary-General’s efforts to reach a political, realistic, practical, lasting and compatible solution to the regional conflict.”

The nomination of experienced diplomat de Mistura will be announced in the coming days, after the endorsement of Security Council members.

From 2014 to 2018, de Mistura was the UN Special Envoy for Syria. He also served as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq from 2007 to 2009 and for Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011.

Western Sahara remains the subject of a decades-old dispute between Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front.

READ: Algeria prepares to compete with Morocco in Africa

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