UNSG Personal Envoy for Sahara, Staffan De Mistura, is currently on a visit to Moscow at the invitation of the Russian authorities, the UN said on “X” (formerly Twitter) on Monday.
De Mistura held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Verchinine.
A press release by the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the officials exchanged views on how to revive the political process under Staffan de Mistura, following his latest contacts with all parties to the conflict.
“The Russian Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of reaching a fair, long-term and mutually acceptable solution to the Sahara issue in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions,” it said.
In early February, the Personal Envoy for Sahara traveled to South Africa, a visit that was clouded by the fact that, according to Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Omar Hilale, “Morocco was neither informed of, nor consulted about.” Hilale had said that the Kingdom rejects any involvement by South Africa regarding the Sahara issue.
De Mistura had visited Pretoria at the invitation of the second cabinet of Ramaphosa and had discussed the Sahara conflict with members of the African National Congress (ANC), a party known for its hostility towards Morocco.
During the 9,460th session of the United Nations Security Council on October 30, 2023, Russia abstained from voting on Resolution 2,703 (2023) which sought to extend the UN mission’s mandate in the Sahara.
The Council urged all parties involved in the Sahara issue, including Algeria, to back the UN Secretary-General Special Envoy in negotiations without preconditions and in good faith to reach a fair and lasting political resolution.