la candidature marocaine est une « insulte à l’héritage de cet illustre combattant contre l’oppression »
Summary of the Sahrawi National Council’s Reaction to Morocco’s Candidacy for the UN Nelson Mandela Award
In Bir Lahlou, the Sahrawi National Council has voiced strong opposition to Morocco’s nomination of Amina Bouayach for the United Nations Nelson Mandela award, calling it "scandalous" and an affront to Mandela’s legacy as a champion against oppression. The council issued a statement condemning Bouayach, arguing that she represents a regime masquerading as a defender of human rights while actually upholding a colonial and oppressive state apparatus.
The council described Bouayach as a staunch ally of a "brutal, dictatorial, and colonial" regime, which it claims uses her as a "cosmetic front" to obscure its grave human rights abuses. The statement highlighted that she has supported the illegal occupation of Western Sahara and has been rewarded by the Moroccan monarchy for her loyalty, serving as both ambassador and later as the president of Morocco’s National Human Rights Council.
Critics within the Sahrawi National Council specifically pointed out her history of covering up human rights violations against Sahrawis, as well as against other groups, such as the Rif population, journalists, and human rights defenders. They argue that her candidacy is entirely incompatible with the values represented by Nelson Mandela and that awarding her the prize would tarnish the honor of the award itself.
The council denounced this potential accolade as a "historic dishonor" that would betray the principles of justice and dignity that Mandela embodied. It called upon the award’s responsible parties to firmly reject Bouayach’s nomination to avoid being associated with the oppressive regime she represents.
In conclusion, the Sahrawi National Council urges that this nomination not only be rejected but also viewed within the larger context of underlying human rights violations in the region, framing it as a moral obligation for the guardians of Mandela’s legacy.
