Morocco says UN proposal to partition Western Sahara is ‘unacceptable’
Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita stated on Monday that a recent proposal by a United Nations envoy to partition the disputed territory of Western Sahara is “unacceptable,” referencing the kingdom’s past rejections of similar plans. During a closed session of the UN Security Council last week, Western Sahara envoy Staffan de Mistura suggested dividing the territory between Morocco and the pro-independence Polisario Front to resolve the longstanding conflict. Bourita noted that de Mistura had made a similar proposal during his visit to Morocco in April, which was met with rejection from the kingdom. “Morocco has not and will not even accept hearing the proposal, because it contradicts the kingdom and Moroccans’ principled position that the Sahara is Moroccan,” Bourita asserted during a press conference in the capital, Rabat. Western Sahara is largely controlled by Morocco, yet the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria, has been advocating for independence since before Spain’s wi...