US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State’s Visit to Western Sahara Bolsters UN-Led Peace Process
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS– In a significant diplomatic move, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for North Africa, Joshua Harris, embarked on a pivotal visit to Western Sahara. The visit, aimed at strengthening support for the United Nations’ political process concerning the Sahrawi issue, underscores the United States’ dedication to achieving a lasting solution for the people of Western Sahara.
The American Assistant Secretary of State’s visit, which took place yesterday, was confirmed by an official press release from the American State Department. During his stay, Harris engaged in constructive discussions with various stakeholders, including SADR’s President and Polisario Front’ Secretary General Brahim Ghali and other senior leaders within the movement.
The central message delivered by Mr. Harris during his visit was a call for increased pragmatism in addressing the Sahrawi issue. He emphasized the necessity of offering full support to the United Nations’ Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, in his quest to facilitate a political and enduring resolution for the Sahrawi people.
A statement released by the US State Department on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) also revealed an upcoming visit by Deputy Assistant Secretary Josh Harris to Algeria. The discussions during this meeting will focus on security cooperation and reaffirm the United States’ commitment to the UN-led political process regarding the Western Sahara conflict. Furthermore, it is expected that Deputy Secretary Harris will make a stopover in Morocco in the coming days, underscoring the importance of the region.
The forthcoming visit to Morocco will provide Harris with a valuable opportunity to reiterate the United States’ unwavering support for the UN’s political process concerning Western Sahara. While the precise date of this visit remains undisclosed, it will undoubtedly carry significant diplomatic weight.
Harris’ diplomatic mission to Western Sahara occurs just months before the UN Security Council is set to vote on a new resolution pertaining to the Western Sahara issue. The crucial vote is anticipated by the end of October, coinciding with the expiration of the mandate of the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Western Sahara, known as Minurso.
During his visit, President Ghali of the Sahrawi people received a delegation from the United States, led by Joshua Harris. In discussions with Harris, President Ghali emphasized the critical role of influential nations like the United States in supporting the efforts of the UN’ Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura. Ghali stated that the success of de Mistura’s mission greatly depends on the support provided by the UN Security Council.
President Ghali further emphasized that to effectively bolster the envoy’s efforts, conditions must be created to enable Minurso to fulfill its mandate as outlined by the Security Council in accordance with the UNOUA settlement plan of 1991.
