Western Sahara Cause: FM Attaf Highlights Unprecedented American Enthusiasm

Published on: 2023-12-28 20:29

By: Hana Saada

Western Sahara Cause: FM Attaf Highlights Unprecedented American Enthusiasm

BY: Hana Saada

ALGIERS- In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf discussed the notable shift in the American position regarding the Western Sahara cause, noting an unprecedented enthusiasm observed since September.

“Attaf mentioned that since last September, there has been an unprecedented American enthusiasm in seeking a solution to the Western Sahara cause issue, even more so than during the tenures of James Baker and Christopher Ross, who served as personal envoys of the UN Secretary-General and were Americans,” the interview revealed.

The minister explained that, for the first time, U.S. State Department officials initiated direct contact with Sahrawi officials, opening a dialogue with them. Another significant development highlighted by Attaf was the visit of UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura to the occupied Sahrawi territory, marking the first time since taking office.

Additionally, Attaf mentioned that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had personally received the Secretary-General of the Polisario Front in New York for the third time since the conflict began. The minister emphasized recent discussions with a U.S. official, now primarily responsible for the Palestinian issue, who also expressed interest in the Sahrawi dossier.

Attaf pointed out the lack of international scrutiny given to the Moroccan-proposed “autonomy plan,” which has been presented since 2007. He highlighted that despite its 16 years of existence, the plan, consisting of three and a half pages of generalities and literature, has never undergone a thorough examination at the international level. Attaf argued that this is because the autonomy plan has never been a viable solution to the Western Sahara cause.