With the exception of the China-Africa Summit, the South African president has been calling on all international forums to advocate for the Polisario Front. In New York, he had the opportunity to demonstrate on two occasions his support for the separatist movement.
A few weeks before the adoption of a new resolution, extending the mandate of the MINURSO, the United States warns Morocco and the Front against the situation in the Sahara.
Unlike the African Union-European Union summit in November 2017, the Polisario will not be attending the China-Africa summit. The latter will be held Monday in Beijing and will be attended by a number of African leaders.
Will Morocco agree to have direct negotiations with the Polisario while challenging the legitimacy of the movement that claims it represents Sahrawis ? Rabat's chances are limited as they are monitored by Donald Trump's advisor John Bolton.
At the height of the holiday season, the UN Security Council will discuss the situation in Western Sahara on August the 8th. The meeting is taking place only two months before the October deadline, which will be dedicated to the MINURSO mandate.