Massad Boulos, the United Nations Special Envoy for Western Sahara, has intensified efforts to revive the stalled political process in Algeria as the deadline for UN Security Council Resolution 2797 approaches. Adopted on October 30, 2025, Resolution 2797 calls for renewed negotiations between Morocco, the Polisario Front, and Algeria within six months, with the deadline set for April 30, 2026.
According to a UN statement on May 8, 2026, Boulos held talks in Algiers with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf, urging Algeria to play a constructive role in facilitating direct talks. The resolution emphasizes Algeria's involvement as a key party due to its hosting of Polisario camps and its historical support for the separatist movement.
Algeria has not yet publicly committed to the negotiations, with officials citing unresolved issues regarding the status of Sahrawi refugees. The UN has warned that failure to meet the deadline could lead to further instability in the region, which has seen sporadic clashes since the breakdown of the 1991 ceasefire in 2020.
Boulos's visit comes amid reports of increased diplomatic pressure from the United States and France, both of which support Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara. The Polisario Front has rejected this plan, insisting on a referendum on self-determination, a position backed by Algeria.
The situation remains tense, with the UN calling for all parties to engage in good faith to avoid a renewed conflict. The next Security Council briefing on Western Sahara is scheduled for May 15, 2026.
