Staffan de Mistura, the United Nations Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, visited the Tindouf refugee camps in Algeria on June 9, 2026, as part of a regional mission. During his meeting with Polisario Front leaders, they reiterated their long-standing demand for a self-determination referendum for the people of Western Sahara, a position that has been a central point of contention in the decades-long dispute.
The visit comes amid ongoing efforts by the UN to restart negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which have been stalled since 2019. De Mistura's mission aims to assess the current situation and explore possibilities for a political solution. The Polisario's insistence on a referendum, as outlined in the 1991 ceasefire agreement, contrasts with Morocco's proposal for autonomy under its sovereignty.
No official statement was released by the UN following the meeting, but sources indicate that de Mistura also planned to visit other regional capitals, including Rabat and Algiers, to continue his consultations. The international community, including the UN Security Council, has consistently called for a mutually acceptable political solution that ensures the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
