Inside the secret US-led talks to solve the Western Sahara conflict
The United States has ramped up its diplomatic initiatives to address the prolonged dispute between Morocco and Western Sahara independence advocates since last autumn, facilitating three clandestine meetings that reunited the central parties for the first time in years.
Despite initial optimism, the situation remains complex, according to Middle East Eye’s diplomatic correspondents. Similar to other regional disputes, such as those between Israel and Palestine in Gaza, or between Thailand and Cambodia, US President Donald Trump seeks to position himself as a mediator in Africa’s geopolitical landscape.
Washington aims to broker a resolution that appeases Morocco while maintaining Algeria’s stature as a key ally of the Polisario Front, the armed group advocating Western Sahara’s independence since 1973. In the past month alone, three negotiation sessions were convened at the ministerial level, yet tangible progress appears limited.
Historical Context and Current Dynamics
The Western Sahara conflict dates back over five decades, ignited in 1975 when Spain relinquished control of its last African colony. The United Nations classifies the territory as non-self-governing, with Morocco controlling 80% of it, demarcated by a defensive wall erected in the 1980s. The remaining area is held by the Polisario Front, while the region’s population—approximately 600,000 people—consists mostly of Moroccans, including many military personnel. Indigenous Sahrawis number fewer than 50,000, with around 165,000 residing in refugee camps across Algeria.
Throughout the years, Morocco has consolidated its hold on the territory, curbing Sahrawi nationalist activities and securing international recognition of its sovereignty. In 2007, the kingdom introduced an autonomy plan, which was initially a concise three-page document. European nations, including Spain, the former colonial power, have increasingly endorsed this proposal in recent years.
Trump’s Strategy and UN Resolution
Following his first presidential term, Trump endorsed Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in a December 2020 statement on X, prompting the kingdom to join the Abraham Accords and reestablish ties with Israel. The US became the first Western state to take this step. During his second term, Trump delayed reaffirming this stance for ten months before advocating it at the United Nations through Resolution 2797.
“Genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty could constitute a most feasible solution,”
the resolution stated, emphasizing that negotiations should center on Morocco’s proposed autonomy framework. Adopted on 31 October, the text received backing from most council members, though Russia and China chose to abstain.
Recent discussions have seen the involvement of neighboring states, including Mauritania, alongside Algeria and the Polisario Front. The most recent session, held during Ramadan in Washington on 23 and 24 February, caught diplomats off guard, according to UN sources who spoke to MEE. Moroccan and Sahrawi representatives had not convened face-to-face since March 2019, under UN supervision, highlighting the renewed urgency in these diplomatic efforts.
