Western Sahara : The UN Security Council extends mandate of MINURSO by six months

The United Nations Security Council adopted, Tuesday, a new resolution (2468) on the Western Sahara conflict, extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) by six months.

Once again, the resolution was not backed by the 15 members of the UN Security Council, as Russia and South Africa abstained.

«The executive body of the United Nations has enshrined, once again, the pre-eminence of the autonomy initiative, presented by Morocco on April 11, 2007, commending the serious and credible efforts made by Morocco to move forward in the process aimed at settling the Sahara conflict», wrote MAP news agency.

Meanwhile, American news platform Maghreb Voices reported that the Security Council has invited Morocco and the Polisario to «carry on negotiations without preconditions to reach a solution that would be accepted by both parties».

Members of the UN Security Council also urged Morocco and the Polisario to engage with «realism» in the negotiation process to «make progress». Moreover, the same source reported that the UN called Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the Polisario to support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s personal envoy by attending meetings organized by the UN.