UN Envoy Staffan de Mistura Arrives in Sahrawi Refugee Camps for Key Meetings

BY: Dr. Hana Saada Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations Secretary-General’s personal envoy for Western Sahara, has arrived in the Sahrawi refugee camps on Thursday to engage with Sahrawi representatives, as reported by the Sahrawi news agency SPS.

De Mistura’s visit includes tours of various facilities, headquarters, and institutions of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). He is scheduled to meet with several Sahrawi officials, furthering dialogue on the ongoing conflict over Western Sahara.

Following his discussions, De Mistura is expected to meet with the Sahrawi president and Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali. This meeting signifies the Sahrawi leadership’s intent to emphasize their steadfast commitment to their rights to self-determination, freedom, and independence.

Mohamed Sidi Omar, the Polisario Front’s representative to the UN and coordinator with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), stated on Wednesday that De Mistura’s visit is part of his preparations for a briefing he will deliver to the UN Security Council on October 16. This visit aims to deepen his contacts with both the Polisario Front and the Moroccan occupying state, seeking to advance the dialogue around the longstanding dispute.

The Sahrawi leadership views De Mistura’s engagement as a crucial opportunity to reaffirm their position and advocate for the recognition of their rights on an international platform, in light of the unresolved status of Western Sahara and the pressing humanitarian needs of the refugee population.