Author: UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Affiliation: United Nations
Organization/Publisher: United Nations
Date/Place: September 23, 2020/Geneva, Switzerland
Type of Literature: Report
Number of Pages: 18
Link: https://minurso.unmissions.org/secretary-general-reports
Keywords: MINURSO, Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, POLISARIO
Brief:
This report is commissioned to expose the situation and reveal the development of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). The report is constructed chronologically, it tracks political and security situations as well as challenges MINURSO faces amid the spread of COVID-19. Though both concerned parties over the dispute in Western Sahara have committed to respect UN resolutions, Morocco, in many events, has breached the international legal status of Western Sahara. Overall calm has loomed over the dispute between Morocco and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Río de Oro (POLISARIO) amid the spread of Covid-19, however military violations have been recorded from both sides. Despite a relatively stable security environment in Western Sahara, the future is not predictable. In addition to the military tension between Morocco and POLISARIO and the virus that stifled the MINURSO, asymmetric challenges constitute a big threat to the UN mission in Western Sahara. MINURSO civilian and military personnel became a target of terrorist and smuggler groups. A main challenge remaining for MINURSO is the humanitarian problem caused by shortfall of resources and a lack of predictable funding. Finally, despite all challenges, the report retains optimism and puts forth recommendations. However, all these recommendations are techniques to maintain the dispute as mild till the goal of MINURSO takes place.
By: Imad Atoui, CIGA Research Associate
