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«Algerian officials are no longer answering calls from the Polisario», a well-informed source told Yabiladi. «Last week, Mohamed Yeslem Beissat, the movement's so-called ‘foreign minister,’ traveled to Algiers hoping to meet a senior Algerian official to discuss the future of the Sahara issue. After two days of waiting, he had to settle for a press conference at the Polisario’s representation headquarters in Algiers», the same source added.
Traditionally, Algerian officials and Polisario leaders meet ahead of or on the sidelines of major regional and international events. This was the case during their last meeting on September 28 in New York, on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, between Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf and Beissat.
Previously, on October 10, 2024, Attaf met in Algiers with Mohamed Sidati, Beissat’s predecessor, as the UN Security Council prepared to adopt a new resolution on Western Sahara.
In past years, Algeria regularly commented publicly on draft resolutions prepared by the United States, such as in October 2021, when a senior Algerian Foreign Ministry official told APS that Algiers was «counting on Russia and Kenya to introduce substantial amendments to rebalance the text» proposed by Washington.
Silence from Algiers, Noise in the Media
While officials remain silent, Algerian media outlets have grown increasingly active. Several articles and TV programs have cautiously criticized the draft resolution submitted by the Trump administration to the Security Council.
Abdelkader Bengrina, leader of the El Bina Movement, read a statement on Sunday during a party meeting condemning the American peace project between Morocco and Algeria, announced last week by Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s envoy for the Middle East.
On Monday, a delegation from the small political party New Algeria visited the Polisario representation in Algiers, declaring its support for «the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination».
Massad Boulos Explains Algeria’s Silence
Meanwhile, Massad Boulos, President Trump’s special advisor for Africa, offered insight into Algeria’s quiet stance. He stated that the American administration is working «with all partners, particularly Moroccan and Algerian allies, to achieve a Security Council resolution that satisfies all parties».
He added that the diplomatic sequence expected to unfold at the Security Council on Thursday «will lead to a new phase aiming for the conclusion of a peace agreement between Morocco and Algeria», as announced last week by Steve Witkoff.
All eyes are now on Thursday’s Security Council session, which could reshape both the negotiation framework and the fragile relationship between the Polisario and its Algerian sponsor.
