Guterres meets Sahara envoys as MINURSO renewal deadline approaches

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres held separate meetings with his Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, and his Special Representative and head of the UN Mission for the Referendum in the Sahara (MINURSO), Alexander Ivanko, amid intensified diplomatic activity ahead of the mission’s mandate renewal at the end of October.

The meetings followed closed-door discussions at the UN Security Council on the dispute, as council members consider MINURSO’s future and the scope of its mandate. The council is expected to vote on a resolution renewing the mission’s mandate, which expires on Oct. 31.

The diplomatic activity comes as the United States steps up its involvement in efforts to advance the political process. Washington has been coordinating with de Mistura as it considers options for the mission’s future, while the United Nations continues to oversee the political process under its institutional mandate.

Some observers see differences between Guterres’ approach to the dispute and that of his personal envoy, particularly over how to balance the United Nations’ role with Washington’s growing diplomatic involvement. These interpretations have been linked to de Mistura’s latest briefing to the Security Council, although the precise nature of any divergence between the two officials has not been publicly established.

Guterres has emphasized the importance of maintaining the UN’s central role in the political process, while de Mistura has sought to use US diplomatic influence to help overcome political and security obstacles and bring the parties closer to a negotiated settlement.

The secretary-general’s approaching departure at the end of the year has also added a transitional dimension to the discussions, with the next phase of the the Sahara file set to continue under his successor.

One option circulating in diplomatic discussions is a shorter renewal of MINURSO’s mandate, potentially for six months, rather than the customary one-year extension. The possibility remains under discussion, with no decision yet announced.

MINURSO was established in 1991 to support a settlement process that included a referendum on the territory’s future. The referendum has never taken place, and the dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front remains unresolved. The mission continues to monitor the security situation and support the UN-led political process.

Observers say US engagement could give de Mistura additional diplomatic leverage as he seeks to revive negotiations amid persistent differences between the parties. However, the outcome will depend on whether the parties can make progress toward a mutually acceptable political settlement.

The Security Council is expected to decide on MINURSO’s mandate before its current authorization expires on Oct. 31.

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