He expressed his worries that people in the Tindouf camps become involved in violence and become easy prey for recruiters of regional circles of terrorism or other criminal groups such as hard drug and smuggling cartels.

Tindouf Camps

Mr. Ross believes that "... the absence of a solution introduced increasing risks for the parties concerned, the Maghreb region and the international community."

These risks include "the possibility of recruitment of unemployed and frustrated young Saharawi by criminal gangs or terrorists."

For the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General "the price includes the plight of refugees"

Maintained in status quo for decades between Morocco, Algeria and the Polisario Front, people live in camps suffer, because of the harsh living conditions, and restrictions on movements and expressions, imposed by the leaders of the  Front, increasingly  criticized for their despotism.

According to Christopher Ross "it is clear that a regulation is necessary if the region wants to meet the challenges of the 21st century."

For this end, he considers that "there are things to say not only to stakeholders but also to neighboring countries and the international community. For parties, you want to see a substantial commitment on the essence of the issue for the future status of Western Sahara, during the next year. It is not enough to keep a discussion on the basis of fixed positions, the solution must reflect political will and concrete steps to move forward. "

"For the Maghreb states and the international community, we hope they begin to see more clearly than ever, the benefits to the parties concerned to help in an active way, find a mutually acceptable solution," Mr. Ross concluded.

- News on Western Sahara issue / Corcas -