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Morocco Orders U.N. to Cut Staff in Disputed Western Sahara Territory Morocco Orders U.N. to Cut Staff in Disputed Western Sahara Territory
(about 20 hours later)
Escalating an angry dispute with the leader of the United Nations, Morocco gave the organization a 72-hour deadline on Thursday to evacuate 84 members of its mission in the disputed Western Sahara territory.Escalating an angry dispute with the leader of the United Nations, Morocco gave the organization a 72-hour deadline on Thursday to evacuate 84 members of its mission in the disputed Western Sahara territory.
The Moroccan order threatened to paralyze the work of the mission, which has played a peacekeeping role for 25 years.The Moroccan order threatened to paralyze the work of the mission, which has played a peacekeeping role for 25 years.
The United Nations Security Council held urgent private consultations on Thursday afternoon over the Moroccan order, which came a day after Morocco announced a big cut in civilian support for the mission; withdrawal of its $3 million in financial support; and other unspecified steps. The United Nations Security Council held urgent private consultations on Thursday afternoon over the Moroccan order, which came a day after Morocco announced a big cut in civilian support for the mission; withdrawal of its $3 million in financial support; and other unspecified steps.
The president of the Security Council for March, Ambassador Ismael Abraão Gaspar Martins of Angola, emerged later to tell reporters that members were continuing to talk and that they wanted to ensure the mission’s stability. He offered no specifics but said, “every problem has a solution.”The president of the Security Council for March, Ambassador Ismael Abraão Gaspar Martins of Angola, emerged later to tell reporters that members were continuing to talk and that they wanted to ensure the mission’s stability. He offered no specifics but said, “every problem has a solution.”
The moves suddenly transformed Western Sahara, a former Spanish protectorate riven by a war for independence after it was seized by Morocco in 1975, from a sensitive, percolating issue into something more pressing.The moves suddenly transformed Western Sahara, a former Spanish protectorate riven by a war for independence after it was seized by Morocco in 1975, from a sensitive, percolating issue into something more pressing.
It complicated the Security Council’s agenda in the midst of crises in Syria, Yemen, Libya and other hot spots.It complicated the Security Council’s agenda in the midst of crises in Syria, Yemen, Libya and other hot spots.
The Moroccan foreign minister, Salaheddine Mezouar, who held a tense meeting with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday at Mr. Ban’s office at the United Nations, said his country’s actions were a response to what he called Mr. Ban’s “unacceptable statements and condemnable actions” in describing Western Sahara as an occupied region.The Moroccan foreign minister, Salaheddine Mezouar, who held a tense meeting with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday at Mr. Ban’s office at the United Nations, said his country’s actions were a response to what he called Mr. Ban’s “unacceptable statements and condemnable actions” in describing Western Sahara as an occupied region.
Mr. Ban used that terminology during a trip this month to neighboring Algeria, where he visited a camp for Western Sahara refugees.Mr. Ban used that terminology during a trip this month to neighboring Algeria, where he visited a camp for Western Sahara refugees.
In an unusually blunt response, Mr. Ban reiterated to the foreign minister that Western Sahara’s status had yet to be decided. Mr. Ban also said he had been personally offended by protests directed at him and the United Nations in Morocco last Sunday over his perceived bias on the Western Sahara dispute.In an unusually blunt response, Mr. Ban reiterated to the foreign minister that Western Sahara’s status had yet to be decided. Mr. Ban also said he had been personally offended by protests directed at him and the United Nations in Morocco last Sunday over his perceived bias on the Western Sahara dispute.
The United Nations has been trying since 1991 to reach a political settlement in Western Sahara between Morocco and an independence movement, the Polisario Front, via a referendum that has yet to happen. The United Nations has been trying since 1991 to reach a political settlement in Western Sahara between Morocco and an independence movement, the Polisario Front.
The United Nations peacekeeping operation there, the Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, or Minurso, has about 500 staff members, roughly half uniformed personnel. The United Nations peacekeeping operation, the Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara or Minurso, has about 500 staff members, roughly half of them uniformed personnel.
Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for Mr. Ban, told reporters on Thursday that the Moroccan evacuation order was unprecedented, difficult to achieve on such short notice, and a violation of Morocco’s responsibilities as the host country of Minurso.Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for Mr. Ban, told reporters on Thursday that the Moroccan evacuation order was unprecedented, difficult to achieve on such short notice, and a violation of Morocco’s responsibilities as the host country of Minurso.
The 84 people in question, he said, cover a range of responsibilities including drivers, communications experts and technicians, and their departure would make it “virtually impossible for the mission to fulfill its mandate.”The 84 people in question, he said, cover a range of responsibilities including drivers, communications experts and technicians, and their departure would make it “virtually impossible for the mission to fulfill its mandate.”
It was unclear whether the mission would be forced to shut down, but the change raised the possibility of new instability in Western Sahara.It was unclear whether the mission would be forced to shut down, but the change raised the possibility of new instability in Western Sahara.
Ahmed Boukhari, the Polisario Front representative at the United Nations, was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying that Morocco’s intention was to put an end to the mission and “that would mean the shortest way to the resumption of war.”Ahmed Boukhari, the Polisario Front representative at the United Nations, was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying that Morocco’s intention was to put an end to the mission and “that would mean the shortest way to the resumption of war.”
Outside analysts said Moroccan leaders have been increasingly distrustful of Mr. Ban’s position on Western Sahara.Outside analysts said Moroccan leaders have been increasingly distrustful of Mr. Ban’s position on Western Sahara.
“There is a belief that Ban Ki-moon has abandoned any veneer of neutrality,” said Anouar Boukhars, a professor of international relations at McDaniel College in Westminster, Md., and an expert on Western Sahara’s political history.“There is a belief that Ban Ki-moon has abandoned any veneer of neutrality,” said Anouar Boukhars, a professor of international relations at McDaniel College in Westminster, Md., and an expert on Western Sahara’s political history.
Mr. Ban’s use of the term “occupation” to describe the territory, he said, was the “last straw that broke the camel’s back.”Mr. Ban’s use of the term “occupation” to describe the territory, he said, was the “last straw that broke the camel’s back.”