At Washington's urging, a crucial meeting was held in Madrid on February 8 and 9, 2026. For the first time in a long time, the United States succeeded in the feat of bringing all the key players in the conflict together around the same table.

A high-flying diplomatic cast

The discussions, held at the American embassy in Spain, brought together a panel of leading decision-makers:

1. The regional parties: The foreign ministers of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the Polisario Front.
2. The mediators: Staffan de Mistura (UN Special Envoy), Massad Boulos (Donald Trump's Special Adviser for Africa) and Mike Waltz (US Representative to the UN).

The emergence of a "technical committee"

Although no official statement has been released, concrete progress appears to be emerging. According to Lahbib Abdelhay, director of the Sahrawi press agency, the participants have reportedly approved the creation of a technical committee . Composed of legal and political experts, this working group is tasked with drafting a framework agreement , the symbolic signing of which could take place in Washington next May .

Points of friction: Between progress and obstacles

The Moroccan autonomy plan, the basis for the discussions, has been considerably expanded, growing from 3 to 40 pages. However, two major points of contention remain between Rabat and the Polisario Front:

1. The mode of governance: Morocco favours an appointment of the regional executive, while the Polisario demands an election.
2. Financial autonomy: The issue of local taxation and the redistribution of wealth in the region remains a red line for the Moroccan government.

The expert's analysis: For political scientist Khadija Mohsen Finan, while Algeria still shows some resistance, this is more akin to a diplomatic stance than a frontal opposition to the ongoing process.

The Boulos method: A diplomacy of pressure

This summit is part of Massad Boulos 's strategy. The advisor to Donald Trump, who had promised to resolve the issue in record time by the end of 2025, favors an approach of "calm diplomacy" alternating progressive dialogue and targeted pressure to force a historic consensus.