The United Nations has long been engaged in the search for a peaceful resolution to the conflict over Western Sahara.

The Kingdom of Morocco and the POLISARIO Front agreed to a U.N. Settlement Plan and the deployment of peacekeepers in 1991. However, disagreements between the two parties have prevented the holding of the anticipated referendum on the territory’s future.

The Department of Political Affairs assists the Secretary-General’s good offices efforts on Western Sahara. DPA provided staff support and political guidance to the intensive seven-year effort to break the impasse by former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, serving as the Personal Envoy of the U.N. Secretary-General from 1997-2004. The Department currently supports the resumed efforts in this regard by Mr. Peter van Walsum of the Netherlands, appointed by the Secretary-General in July 2005.

While these diplomatic efforts continue, U.N. peacekeepers remain on the ground.