UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres held a meeting with Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Wednesday, where they discussed the disputed Western Sahara region.
Western Sahara – a former Spanish colony – is considered a “non-self-governing territory” by the United Nations.
Morocco controls 80% of the territory and the rest is held by the Polisario movement – which fought with Morocco for years after Spanish forces withdrew in 1975.
🔴Statement by the Royal Office: His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, received, today at the Rabat Royal Palace, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. António Guterres.
🔗https://t.co/tmYij2wSq9@antonioguterres pic.twitter.com/Ho2wKvxppv
— Moroccan Diplomacy 🇲🇦 (@Marocdiplo_EN) November 23, 2022
In October, the UN Security Council called on both sides to resume negotiations.
The two leaders met on Wednesday on the side-lines of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations held in the Moroccan city of Fez.
King Mohammed reaffirmed Morocco’s position that the dispute be resolved “on the basis of the autonomy initiative, within the framework of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom”.
Source: BBC