Madrid – The Sahrawi people alone will determine their future through a free and fair referendum, according to a statement made by Abdallah Al-Arabi, the Polisario Front’s representative in Spain. In remarks made Tuesday, Al-Arabi asserted the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination, emphasizing that any resolution to the Western Sahara conflict must originate from the will of the Sahrawi population.
Al-Arabi criticized what he described as attempts by Morocco to circumvent international legitimacy through its proposed autonomy plan. He characterized the Moroccan proposal as a continuation of colonial policies, arguing that it fails to address the fundamental right of the Sahrawi people to choose their own destiny.
“The future of Western Sahara rests solely with the Sahrawi people,” Al-Arabi stated. “They must be allowed to exercise their right to self-determination through a transparent and impartial referendum, free from coercion or external interference.”
The Polisario Front has long advocated for a referendum on self-determination for Western Sahara, a territory that has been the subject of a protracted dispute between Morocco and the Sahrawi independence movement. The United Nations has repeatedly called for a just and lasting solution to the conflict, one that respects the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination.
Al-Arabi’s statement comes at a time of renewed diplomatic efforts to resolve the Western Sahara issue. The Polisario Front maintains that any negotiations must be based on the principle of self-determination and that the Sahrawi people must be given the opportunity to freely express their will through a legitimate referendum.
The situation in Western Sahara remains a significant point of contention in the region, with the Polisario Front continuing to call for international pressure on Morocco to allow for a free and fair referendum on the territory’s future. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, hoping for a peaceful and just resolution to the long-standing conflict.
