National Assembly Vice-President Reaffirms Sahrawi Self-Determination Right

Belkacem Mesnadi, Vice-President of the National People's Assembly, participated in the 50th European Conference of Coordination for Solidarity with the Sahrawi People, held in Madrid, Spain. During the conference, he reaffirmed Algeria's consistent position supporting the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination. Mesnadi emphasized that this fundamental right is not subject to a statute of limitations and urged the international community to fulfill its responsibilities regarding the issue, especially in light of recent developments concerning the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

Mesnadi described the potential conclusion of the MINURSO mission before it achieves its intended objective, established in 1991, as an unprecedented development. He clarified that such a development would neither absolve the United Nations of its responsibilities nor justify the imposition of a fait accompli on the territory. Furthermore, marking the 50th anniversary of the Madrid Tripartite Agreement, Mesnadi asserted that this agreement does not constitute a legal basis for the transfer of sovereignty over Western Sahara and does not grant any party the right to determine the future of its people outside the framework of international legitimacy.

The Vice-President called for enhanced international solidarity and expanded parliamentary and political support for the Sahrawi cause. He highlighted the plight of Sahrawi refugees, the conditions of the population in the occupied territories, reported violations, and the exploitation of the region's resources. According to the official page of the National People's Assembly, Algeria's stance is founded on its unwavering principles and international commitments supporting peoples' right to self-determination. The Algerian delegation, which included representatives from the parliament and the Algerian National Committee for Solidarity with the Sahrawi People, received a warm reception, with participants acknowledging Algeria's positions in support of just causes, notably the Sahrawi and Palestinian issues.