Published on: Saturday, October 12, 2024, 16:13 | Category: Algeria
Algiers – The Ambassador of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to Algeria, Abdelkader Taleb Omar, stated on Saturday that the European Court of Justice’s ruling, which declared the trade agreements between Morocco and the European Union covering the occupied territories of Western Sahara illegal, has exposed the true nature of the Moroccan occupation and its allies.
During a conference organized by the National Institute for Comprehensive Strategic Studies in Algiers, titled “Western Sahara’s Resources: The Core of Conflict and Legal Approaches to Resolving It,” the Sahrawi ambassador highlighted the ongoing violations committed by the Moroccan occupation against the Sahrawi people.
Taleb Omar emphasized that Morocco has employed various methods to eradicate the Sahrawi identity and its presence, ranging from exploiting the region’s rich natural resources to erasing Sahrawi culture. These efforts include building the “Wall of Shame” to divide the people, confiscating property, and mistreating political prisoners held in Moroccan jails.
Moreover, Morocco continues to impose a blockade on the region, preventing the entry of international observers and expelling them, out of fear that these observers would uncover the violations and abuses being committed against the Sahrawi people. The recent rulings by the European Court of Justice, Taleb Omar added, have revealed some of these truths and shed light on the role of Morocco and its allies in these injustices.
In conclusion, the Sahrawi ambassador stressed the importance of human rights monitoring and protection in the continued struggle of the Sahrawi people.
In his presentation, Mohamed Salem Ould Salek, Minister-Counselor for Diplomatic Affairs of the Sahrawi Presidency, underlined that the Sahrawi people have the right to self-determination and the sovereign right to exploit their natural resources.
Ould Salek pointed out that the European Union has no legal right to sign agreements with Morocco concerning Western Sahara or its resources. He emphasized that any exploitation of these resources must have the consent of the Sahrawi people, represented by the Polisario Front, which holds the legitimate authority to bring cases before European courts to defend these resources.
He also stated that the Sahrawi Republic is ready to engage with any country that wishes to benefit from its natural wealth, provided that it respects the Sahrawi people’s permanent sovereignty over their resources, as recognized by the United Nations.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the National Institute for Comprehensive Strategic Studies, Abdelaziz Mjahid, drew parallels between events in the Middle East and Western Sahara, describing them as parts of a larger global struggle. He compared the “Al-Aqsa flood” in Gaza with the “Zemla Uprising” near the occupied city of Laayoune, calling them interconnected events.
Mjahid stressed the need to elevate the “battle of will” in Western Sahara, after more than half a century of resistance, to a “battle of awareness,” similar to what is happening in Palestine. He noted that the ongoing events in Palestine have led Western countries and global public opinion to reconsider their approach and terminology regarding the Palestinian cause.
The conference also addressed several key topics, including globalization, economic expansion, ideological undermining, and the stance of European courts regarding the Sahrawi people’s right to sovereignty over their resources. The session concluded with a general discussion on the presented topics.
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Author: Nor-Eleslam
Western Sahara, European Court of Justice, Moroccan occupation, Sahrawi resources, Polisario Front
