Le Forum diplomatique de solidarité avec le peuple sahraoui insiste sur l’exercice par les Sahraouis de leur droit à l’autodétermination
Diplomatic Forum of Solidarity with the Sahrawi People: Key Highlights
The Diplomatic Forum advocating for solidarity with the Sahrawi people recently held a significant meeting, emphasizing its firm belief that the only path to completing the decolonization process in Western Sahara is through the exercise of the Sahrawi people’s inalienable right to self-determination. The Forum underscores that this right allows the Sahrawi people to determine their own future without external interference.
Following the meeting at the South African embassy in Algiers, the ambassadors from the participating 15 countries issued a strong statement affirming their conviction that the sole method for concluding the decolonization of Western Sahara—widely regarded as the last colony in Africa—lies in the resumption of direct and unconditional negotiations between the two conflicting parties: Morocco and the Polisario Front.
The ambassadors urged the United Nations Security Council to fulfill its responsibilities towards the Sahrawi population, who have awaited the opportunity to exercise their right to self-determination for over fifty years. They highlighted that numerous obstacles erected by Morocco hinder this realization.
Rejecting Morocco’s attempts to gain international acceptance for its purported "autonomy plan," the Forum members asserted that the Sahrawi people alone should determine their future. They reaffirmed that the Polisario Front remains the exclusive representative of the Sahrawi people, as it is recognized as the sole entity capable of contesting disputed decisions in European courts.
The Forum expressed satisfaction with the European Court of Justice’s clarifications, which distinctly differentiated between the sovereign Sahrawi people and populations without ties to Western Sahara, who are strategically settled to alter the territory’s demographic composition.
Participants voiced strong concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in occupied Western Sahara. They emphasized the urgent need for the establishment of an independent and permanent United Nations mechanism to oversee human rights in the occupied territories.
Additionally, the Forum supported the "March for Freedom," which recently commenced to demand the release of Sahrawi political prisoners incarcerated in Moroccan jails. They called for an end to the blockade imposed on the territory, which effectively restricts access for international media and foreign observers.
The ambassadors also advocated for strengthened humanitarian assistance for Sahrawi refugees and expressed gratitude to Algeria for hosting these refugees for the past five decades.
Summary
In summary, the Diplomatic Forum of Solidarity with the Sahrawi People reflects a strong belief in the Sahrawi right to self-determination as a means to address the lingering issue of Western Sahara’s decolonization. Emphasizing the need for direct negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front, the Forum highlights the importance of UN intervention and monitoring of human rights in the region. It stands firmly against Morocco’s autonomy claims and expresses support for ongoing movements for Sahrawi freedom and humanitarian efforts.
