African Commission Urged to Probe Western Sahara Rights by Algeria
Algeria has unequivocally reiterated its steadfast support for the Sahrawi people's inalienable right to self-determination. This definitive stance was articulated by Algeria's representative during the 89th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, held in Dakar, Senegal, on October 12, 2026. During the discussions on the human rights situation in Africa, Algeria specifically called upon the African Commission to activate its full powers to ensure the implementation of resolutions from the African Union Executive Council, which include dispatching a fact-finding mission to assess the human rights situation in occupied Western Sahara.
The Algerian delegation emphasized that the protection of human rights is inseparable from upholding peoples' right to self-determination and the process of decolonization and ending occupation. It underscored that the universality of human rights remains incomplete as long as certain peoples are deprived of their fundamental rights due to ongoing occupation or colonialism. Algeria further highlighted the imperative of strengthening African cooperation in human rights and enhancing coordination among the continent's mechanisms dedicated to human rights, governance, peace, and security, affirming its readiness for continued constructive engagement.
This recent affirmation from Dakar aligns with Algeria's consistent diplomatic efforts, including previous statements by an Algerian diplomat to the UN General Assembly's Fourth Committee. That representative clarified that Morocco's 18-year promotion of an autonomy plan lacks legal legitimacy and cannot serve as an alternative to the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination. The Algerian position maintains that this proposal implicitly assumes Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, a premise inconsistent with the territory's internationally recognized legal status.
