Spain renews support to UN-mission in disputed Western Sahara territory

Spain has renewed its support for the UN-led political process for a political solution to the decade-long dispute over the Western Sahara territory.

During a meeting with Staffan de Mistura, UN Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares reiterated Madrid's commitment to the UN mission in the disputed region.

"I have met with the personal Envoy of the SG of the UN for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura. I have reiterated Spain's support for your mission," Madrid's FM said in a tweet.

Me he reunido con el Enviado Personal del SG de @ONU_es para el Sáhara Occidental, Staffan de Mistura. Le he reiterado el apoyo de España a su misión. pic.twitter.com/LglBBOkW8s

— José Manuel Albares (@jmalbares) October 5, 2022

In 1991, the UN established a peacekeeping mission to monitor a ceasefire in the territory after a 15-year-long guerilla between Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front movement.

The UN was set to organise a referendum in 1992 on the territory's status, however, the vote was suspended after Morocco refused to accept any referendum that allowed for the territory's independence, saying that only "autonomy" was on the table.

In 2006, Morocco suggested an autonomy plan regarding the territory.

Rabat's proposal will allow Sahrawis to run their affairs "democratically" through legislative, executive, and judicial bodies while Rabat retains control over the defence and foreign relations.

For its part, the UN has backed the plan yet the Polisario Front rejected Rabat's proposal and continues to call for an independent state for the Sahrawi people.

The UN formally recognises neither Moroccan nor Polisario Front's sovereignty over the disputed territory.

Since decolonising the territory, Spain has tried to distance itself from the dispute.

However, on 18 March, Spain's PM Pedro Sanchez Pedro Sanchez reversed Madrid's decades of neutrality policy on its former colony by voicing support for Morocco's 2006 autonomy plan.

Sanchez's move ended a year-long diplomatic brawl with Rabat, though it ignited tensions with Algeria, Polisario's historical ally.

The UN envoy Staffan de Mistura held talks with other European officials, including Belgium's foreign minister Hadja Lahbib.

The meetings came three weeks before the Security Council voted on a new resolution to extend the peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara MINURSO's mandate.

De Mistura is tasked with reviving dialogue through roundtables by convening all main parties to the dispute, including Morocco, Algeria and the Polisario Front.

A nearly impossible mission that former UN officials have failed to finish.