Marie Okabe, spokesperson for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, has announced that a new personal envoy for Western Sahara, replacing Dutch diplomat Peter Van Walsum, will be appointed shortly.
In response to questions regarding press reports by Peter van Walsum, the Spokeswoman said the Secretary-General appreciates the work done by his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Peter van Walsum.
The Secretary-General remains committed to offering the Parties his good offices, as they prepare for the fifth round of the negotiations this fall. He firmly believes that there is a need to revitalize the negotiation process in order to attain a peaceful solution in Western Sahara. An announcement of the new Personal Envoy will be made soon.
Okabe stressed that the next round of talk are expected to proceed as planned this fall. The Secretary-General, she added, plans to announce a new Personal Envoy shortly.
Source: UN Secretary General Office of the Spokesperson
Further reading: Van Walsum - over and out UN envoy: "negotiations for the sake of appearances"
Africa's last colonySince 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
Since 1975, three quarters of the Western Sahara territory has been illegally occupied by Morocco. The original population lives divided between those suffering human rights abuses under the Moroccan occupation and those living in exile in Algerian refugee camps. For more than 40 years, the Saharawi await the fulfilment of their legitimate right to self-determination.
