Ahmed Attaf Reaffirms Western Sahara Self-Determination at UN
During a thirty-minute address at the United Nations General Assembly, Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Attaf clarified and reaffirmed Algeria's consistent stance on the Western Sahara question. The core of this diplomatic effort centered on the inalienable right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and the imperative of a completed decolonization process, distinct from any notion of a "fait accompli." For Algerian diplomacy, the resolution of decolonization matters cannot be expedited through shortcuts. Mr. Attaf highlighted Algeria's profound conviction that the Western Sahara issue must be addressed strictly under the framework of international legality, asserting that such questions cannot be settled by accomplished facts, and that the only viable solution is for peoples to freely exercise their rights.
Beyond a declaration of principles, Mr. Attaf's discourse detailed the methodology for conflict resolution. Algeria expressed its satisfaction with the organization of direct negotiations between the primary stakeholders, which are conducted under the auspices of the United Nations and with the support of the United States. Algiers views these discussions as the singular path to lasting peace, a posture illustrative of what the Algerian government terms "positive neutrality." By advocating for Moroccan-Sahrawi negotiations without direct intervention from third-party countries, Algeria aims to facilitate a just and equitable settlement for the Western Sahara issue. This diplomatic approach has garnered international recognition, notably from Massad Boulos, a senior advisor to former US President Donald Trump, which Algiers perceives as validating its strategy centered on exclusive bilateral dialogue between the direct parties to the conflict.
For these negotiation processes to succeed, Algeria, through its Minister of Foreign Affairs, has outlined several indispensable criteria. Algeria posits that the success of these talks hinges on a comprehensive political agreement, urgently concluding the decolonization process. The Algerian minister suggested that the more than fifty-year-old dispute could have been resolved earlier with more effective and proactive United Nations governance. Consequently, Algeria now calls upon the international community to fulfill its responsibilities, finally enabling the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination.
