Polisario ready for talks with Morocco over Western Sahara

The Algeria-backed Polisario Front independence movement said on Monday it is ready to start negotiations with Morocco on the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

In a news conference, a senior official of the movement said the Polisario is ready to hold talks with Morocco aimed at self-determination.

“As far as negotiations with Morocco are concerned, the recommendation is clear: it will be on the basis of a political solution that ensures the rights of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and we are negotiating on this basis,” said a senior official, Mhamed Khadad.

This comes after the UN Security Council voted unanimously on Friday, to restart talks between the two differing sides and extend its peace keeping mission in the territory for another year.

Morocco and the Polisario fought for control of Western Sahara from 1974-1991 when Rabat took over the territory, before signing a UN-brokered ceasefire.

Rabat considers Western Sahara an integral part of Morocco and proposes autonomy for the resource-rich territory, but the Polisario insists on an independence referendum.