Christopher Ross , the U.N. Secretary General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, is set to travel to North Africa next week, as part of ongoing consultations to prepare for the next phase of the negotiations aimed at resolving the long-running conflict.“The current conflict in Mali and the heightened risks of instability and insecurity in the Sahel and beyond make a solution to the Western Sahara conflict more urgent than ever,” U.N. spokesperson Eduardo del Buey told reporters in New York.“Within the framework of his mandate and successive resolutions of the Security Council, the purpose of Mr. Ross’s trip is to prepare for the next phase in the negotiating process and a possible resumption of direct talks to achieve a mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara,” he added.During his two-week visit, Ross will hold talks with the parties to the Western Sahara negotiations, namely: Morocco and the Frente Polisario, and will visit Western Sahara. He will also hold discussions with the neighboring states of Algeria and Mauritania.The U.N. has been involved in mediation efforts to reach a settlement in Western Sahara since 1976.