During a recent meeting with United Nations Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, the Polisario Front reiterated its long-standing demands for a referendum on self-determination for the disputed territory, according to reports from the region.
The talks, which took place in an undisclosed location, focused on the stalled peace process. The Polisario Front, which seeks independence for Western Sahara, repeated its call for a UN-supervised referendum that includes options for independence, integration with Morocco, or autonomy. Morocco, which controls most of the territory, has proposed autonomy under its sovereignty and rejects any referendum that includes independence.
De Mistura has been shuttling between the parties since his appointment in 2021, seeking to revive negotiations that have been frozen since 2019. The UN has long considered Western Sahara a non-self-governing territory, and the Security Council has called for a political solution based on compromise.
No immediate breakthrough was reported from the meeting. The Polisario Front's position remains unchanged, while Morocco continues to insist on its autonomy plan as the only viable framework for a resolution.
