RABAT (MOROCCO) (ITALPRESS) – The Polisario has launched a harsh attack against Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Sahara, just weeks before the Security Council is set to review the dossier again.

In a statement released in New York on October 12—following a letter sent by Polisario leader Brahim Ghali to Secretary-General António Guterres—the movement challenged remarks attributed to De Mistura during the Security Council’s closed-door consultations on October 8, accusing him of deviating from the principle of neutrality.

Criticism focused in particular on two aspects of the Personal Envoy’s remarks. According to the Moroccan daily Le360, De Mistura explicitly identified—for the first time—the Polisario’s refusal to seriously consider the autonomy plan as a major obstacle to advancing the political process following rounds of talks held this year in Madrid and Washington. The Polisario also objects to the Personal Envoy’s support for the framework of Resolution 2797 and for autonomy as the basis for future discussions.

Consequently, the Front raised the possibility of reconsidering its cooperation with De Mistura should the current direction of the mediation efforts continue.

This stance comes as the Security Council prepares to review the renewal of the MINURSO mandate, which expires on October 31. Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, 2025, supports negotiations under United Nations auspices based on the Moroccan autonomy proposal, with the aim of reaching a final, mutually acceptable political solution. The text also acknowledges that a form of genuine autonomy could represent a viable outcome.

It is precisely this approach that has become a major point of contention between the Polisario and the Personal Envoy. According to Le360, the movement views the assessments made on October 8 as a sign of alignment with a specific interpretation of Resolution 2797 and disputes being held responsible for the negotiating stalemate.

In recent weeks, Algiers has also shown keen interest in the evolution of the dossier. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune stated that Algeria would not be “more Sahrawi than the Sahrawis,” while Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf expressed concern regarding developments in the matter.

Attention is now focused on the upcoming Security Council resolution and the indications that will emerge regarding the continuation of the political process.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews