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The UN Secretary-General's Special Representative and head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO) Alexander Ivanko briefed, Tuesday, the Security Council on the situation in Western Sahara since the October 2023 adoption of Resolution 2703.
The Russian envoy, in a document seen by Yabiladi, noted that peacekeepers haven't observed signs of imminent escalation between Morocco's Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and the Polisario. However, he cautioned, «unless a ceasefire is achieved, the potential for further escalation remains real».
While acknowledging «improvements» in MINURSO ground operations since November, Ivanko criticized the Polisario's refusal to authorize «helicopter reconnaissance flights» in the buffer zone. He added that Polisario restrictions limit patrols to a 20-kilometer radius.
Polisario neither confirms nor denies missiles attacks
Alexander Ivanko emphasized «efforts to resume liaison meetings between Polisario regional military commanders» and MINURSO observers.
He also expressed regret over the Front's refusal to meet him in the Tindouf camps, referencing their demand to host his predecessor, Colin Stewart, in its «self-proclaimed capital» Bir Lahlou, in the buffer zone. The request was rejected by the UN.
Ivanko's report doesn't mention meetings with Polisario members in Tindouf, but does detail his visit to Algiers and talks with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf in November.
The head of MINURSO revealed that he had submitted to Morocco and the Polisario a proposal for a truce during the month of Ramadan. «Morocco responded by reiterating its commitment to the 1991 ceasefire but stressed its right to respond to attacks by the Polisario Front». On the other hand, the Polisario attributed «to Morocco the root causes of the breakdown of the 1991 ceasefire», arguing that the «appeal ignores the current reality on the ground».
Ivanko dedicated section of his report several paragraphs to the missiles fired by the Polisario in October, November and December 2023, which targeted civilian installations including MINURSO observation points. «I contacted the Polisario Front coordinator to express serious concerns about the safety and security of MINURSO sites. Without confirming or denying, the Front's coordinator verbally assured me of taking MINURSO personnel safety seriously», he said.
In his report, Alexander Ivanko made no mention of his visit to Rabat from February 26 to March 1, which included meetings with the ambassadors of the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, China and Spain, as well as with Moroccan officials.
