Ban Ki-moon Disappointed Security Council Didn’t Support Him Against Morocco

PERSISMA, Rabat – Ban Ki-moon seems to be in a bad mood in the last months of his second mandate. After he expressed anger and disappointment with the Moroccan people for organizing a march last Sunday to condemn his biased statement in favor of the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, he is now disappointed with the Security Council for not supporting him in his feud with Morocco.

During the closed-door meeting it held on Thursday afternoon, the Security Council failed to reach a unanimous position on the dispute between Rabat and Ban Ki-moon over his biased statements with regards to the Western Sahara.

During a press briefing in the media stakeout, Ambassador Ismael Gaspar Martins of Angola, council president this month, told reporters that the 15-member council voiced its concern, but agreed that every member states should approach Morocco to diffuse tension and “ensure everything is evolving in a positive manner.”

Ban Ki-moon was probably hoping he would receive clear words of support from the Security Council. Echoing the UN chief’s disappointment, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said: “It would have been better had we received clearer words from the president of the Security Council.”

Dujarric went to add that Ban Ki-moon would raise the issue during his monthly luncheon with members of the Security Council.

France, one of the five permanent members of the council and Morocco’s first strategic ally, led the group of countries who opposed the adoption of a strong statement in support of Ban Ki-moon. Paris, Spain, Egypt, Senegal and Japan were in favor of addressing the issue bilaterally with Morocco.

In an attempt to reduce tension, French foreign minister, Jean Marc Ayrault held a telephone conversation with Ban Ki-moon and offered to mediate between him and Rabat. (Adnane Bennis)