The Polisario Front has strongly criticized the UN Secretary-General's personal envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, accusing him of compromising his mission's neutrality by proposing autonomy as a basis for future negotiations. This reaction followed the envoy's remarks during a closed-door UN Security Council session on October 8, 2026. The movement argues that such a stance ignores the territory's status as a decolonization issue. In a statement issued by its UN representative, Sidi M. Omar, the Polisario warned that further cooperation with the mediator is contingent upon his adherence to international law and UN resolutions. Having previously sent letters to António Guterres expressing concerns, the group insists that impartiality is vital for the political process, while maintaining its readiness to engage with the UN Secretariat to achieve the self-determination of Western Sahara.