RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS) – The recent meeting on the Western Sahara issue, held in Madrid on February 8 and 9 in a restricted and confidential format, marks a new phase in the political process promoted by the United Nations with strong US support. Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front participated in the meeting, in the presence of US and UN representatives. The discussions took place at the US diplomatic headquarters in the Spanish capital, under the coordination of US Envoy for Africa Massad Boulos, and with the participation of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura.
No official statement was released following the meeting, but consistent sources speak of a substantive and results-oriented discussion. One of the most notable elements is the direct participation of Algeria, which agreed to sit at the table alongside the other parties. This is unprecedented in recent years, interpreted by several observers as a sign of flexibility in the face of American diplomatic pressure. Algeria had refused to resume its participation in the Geneva round tables and did not participate in the vote on Resolution 2797 of October 31, 2025, as a UN Security Council member. According to multiple sources, the four parties accepted a roadmap proposed by the United States, which will serve as the framework for the upcoming negotiations.
The document fits within the parameters established by the UN Security Council and favors a realistic and pragmatic political solution. In this context, the new text of the autonomy plan presented by Morocco emerges as the central basis for the technical discussions. The discussions focused on concrete aspects related to local governance, institutional capacity, and political guarantees, overcoming approaches that the international community no longer considers realistic. The parties also agreed to establish a technical committee of experts, tasked with examining the modalities for implementing autonomy. A new round of negotiations is planned in the coming months in Washington, with the aim of moving toward a framework political agreement.
However, some sensitive issues remain unresolved. The Polisario Front continues to defend its interpretation of the principle of self-determination, while Algeria maintains a cautious stance. The future of the MINURSO mission, which will be the subject of the UN Secretary General’s next report, is also yet to be determined. According to observers, the Madrid meeting marks a concrete reactivation of the political process on Western Sahara. Under US pressure, the issue is returning to the center of the international diplomatic agenda, with the aim of overcoming years of stalemate and bringing the parties closer to a lasting solution.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
