Paris – The Prime Minister of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), Bouchraya Hammoudi Bayoune, stated on Friday in Paris that France’s position regarding the Western Sahara conflict is in direct opposition to its own historical values.
Speaking to journalists, Prime Minister Bayoune emphasized the historical ties between France and the principles of self-determination and decolonization. He argued that France’s current approach to the Western Sahara issue, particularly its support for Morocco’s autonomy plan, undermines these fundamental values.
“France has historically been a champion of freedom and the rights of peoples to determine their own future,” Bayoune said. “Yet, its stance on Western Sahara seems to ignore the legitimate aspirations of the Sahrawi people for self-determination, a right enshrined in international law.”
The Prime Minister further elaborated on the Sahrawi government’s perspective, highlighting the ongoing occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco and the plight of Sahrawi refugees who have lived in camps in Algeria for decades. He called on France to play a more constructive role in finding a just and lasting solution to the conflict, one that respects the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination through a free and fair referendum.
“We urge France to reconsider its position and to align its actions with its stated values and its international obligations,” Bayoune concluded. “A just resolution to the Western Sahara conflict is essential for regional stability and for upholding the principles of international law.”
The Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, has been the subject of a long-running dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the territory. The United Nations has repeatedly called for a referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people, but the process remains stalled due to disagreements over voter eligibility.
