Sahara : UN envoy for Western Sahara visits South Africa

The United Nations Secretary-General's personal envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, is set to visit South Africa on Wednesday. This visit is at the invitation of the South African government.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed the visit during a press briefing on Tuesday : «The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, is on his way to South Africa, at the invitation of the Government, for meetings tomorrow with senior South African officials to discuss the issue of Western Sahara».

However, Morocco disagrees with this engagement. In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in March 2023, Morocco expressed its strong disapproval : «The Kingdom of Morocco deeply regrets that South Africa lends itself, once again, to the role of factor of an armed separatist group, whose connections with terrorism in the Sahel are proven».