AU appointment of alleged 'special envoy' to Sahara, a new Algerian desperate maneuver, Lahcen Mahraoui

In a statement to MAP, Mahraoui said ATSME, based in Paris, rejects this appointment which it deems as non-event, and calls on the international community to give no credit to this maneuver which aims to interfere with the UN process. "We question the merits of such an appointment which emanates from the African Union, the only regional and international organization in the world that has integrated a separatist entity, without consulting with the parties to the conflict.

"Since when the African Union is it more qualified than the UN?", wondered ATSME spokesperson, noting that "we can also ask what can justify such appointment as the UN remains involved in the issue while the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco, as a political solution to finally settle this regional problem, is considered serious and credible by the security Council in all its resolutions since April 2007 ".