New York, 19 October 2019 (SPS) – The UN Security Council, met Wednesday, to address Western Sahara question, called for appointing a successor to special envoy Horst Kohler.
During this in camera meeting, there was consensus on two important points: rapidly appointing a successor to Kohler and preserving what has been achieved in Geneva talks, said a source close to the matter.
Four months after the unexpected departure of Horst Kohler, the UN Secretary-General is still looking for a new envoy. The delay has stalemated the peace process, regretted the Polisario Front, which denounces the preconditions of Morocco to influence this appointment.
In addition to South Africa's advocacy for the decolonization of Western Sahara, the US delegation insisted on the urgency of appointing a new envoy, added the same source.
The new report of the UN General Secretary on the non-governing territory has been presented during the meeting.
In the absence of a personal envoy, the UN Security Council has been briefed by UN Under-Secretary-General for Africa in charge of peacekeeping operations Bintou Keita on the state of the political process.
The UN SG Special Representative, Colin Stewart, gave an overview of Minurso's activities in the field.
The Security Council is set to meet on 30 October to renew the mandate of the UN mission. (SPS)
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