11 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The UN mission in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has received the first convoy with supplies sent to the area since 2020, an aspect that the organization considers key to be able to continue advancing in the “political process” with which it aspires to put an end to the territorial conflict.
The United Nations announced at the end of March the preparation of this land convoy, without giving dates. The spokesman for the general secretariat, Stéphane Dujarric, confirmed at a press conference that the work took place between April 5 and made it possible to bring supplies to Tifariti and Mehaires.
With these deliveries, the MINURSO detachments in both areas will be able to “continue operating.” Dujarric stressed that, for this work, the UN has had the approval of both the Moroccan authorities and the Polisario Front, which controls the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
“We appreciate the safe passage provided,” which “will allow the mission to overcome some of the logistical challenges it faces,” Dujarric said. The mission had some “critical” needs, especially fuel, he added.
For the spokesman, it is “vital” to take advantage of this milestone so that the mission can “maintain its efforts on the ground and its presence throughout the territory” with a view to “creating the space for the political process”, for which the envoy is responsible. Special Staffan de Mistura.
MINURSO was created in 1991 with the aim of supporting the preparations for a referendum in which the Saharawi people had to choose between independence and integration into Morocco, a hypothesis that Rabat has always ruled out, which only contemplates limited autonomy within the kingdom. alawi
