The Sahrawi Republic’s Ministry of International Relations and African Affairs has expressed profound disappointment with the recent UK-Morocco Joint Communiqué, particularly its stance on the Western Sahara issue. While acknowledging the UK’s continued non-recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the territory and its reaffirmation of the UN Charter’s principles, including self-determination, the Sahrawi Ministry criticizes the UK’s consideration of Morocco’s proposal, deeming it a departure from the UK’s established position on this matter. The Sahrawi Republic maintains that Western Sahara remains a decolonization issue pending on the UN agenda since 1963 and emphasizes that no international body recognizes Moroccan sovereignty over the territory.
The Sahrawi Ministry insists that the sole viable resolution lies in the UN-OAU Settlement Plan, mutually accepted by both parties – the Frente POLISARIO and Morocco – in 1988 and subsequently endorsed by the UN Security Council. They denounce Morocco’s proposal as a colonial maneuver attempting to legitimize its occupation and deny the Sahrawi people their right to self-determination and independence. Highlighting the consistent rejection of Moroccan sovereignty by international organizations and courts, the Sahrawi Republic asserts that supporting Morocco’s proposal only emboldens their intransigence, exacerbating the deadlock in the UN peace process.
The Sahrawi Republic further argues that encouraging engagement with the UN-led process while simultaneously endorsing Morocco’s proposal creates a contradiction that undermines the principles of impartiality and neutrality. They emphasize the importance of considering the Frente POLISARIO’s 2007 proposal alongside Morocco’s, as both are acknowledged by the Security Council. The Sahrawi Ministry reminds all stakeholders that true stability in North Africa hinges on upholding international law and the right to self-determination, rather than condoning territorial acquisition by force.
The Ministry urges the UK to leverage its influence to promote a productive UN peace process that facilitates the Sahrawi people’s free and democratic exercise of their right to self-determination and independence, free from military and administrative constraints. They stress that lasting peace cannot be achieved by rewarding expansionism but by adherence to international legal principles. The Sahrawi perspective emphasizes the incompatibility of supporting Morocco’s proposal with genuine commitment to a fair and neutral peace process.
Reiterating the Frente POLISARIO’s willingness to engage constructively in the UN-led process, the Sahrawi Republic expresses its commitment to achieving a peaceful and enduring solution to the decolonization of Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa. They underscore the Sahrawi people’s unwavering resolve in pursuing their national aspirations for freedom and independence. This statement serves as a direct address to the UK and the international community, urging a reconsideration of approaches that deviate from established UN resolutions and principles of self-determination.
In summary, the Sahrawi Republic, through its Ministry of International Relations and African Affairs, expresses deep concern over the UK’s apparent shift in its stance on the Western Sahara issue. They reject Morocco’s proposal, emphasizing the importance of the UN-OAU Settlement Plan as the only legitimate pathway to a resolution. The Sahrawi Ministry argues that endorsing Morocco’s proposal undermines the UN peace process and emboldens Morocco’s intransigence. They urge the UK to utilize its influence to promote a genuine and impartial UN-led process that allows the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination and independence. The statement reaffirms the Sahrawi people’s unwavering commitment to achieving their national aspirations for freedom and independence and calls for a return to the established principles of international law and decolonization.
