UN Security Council Hears Algeria Uphold Sahrawi Self-Determination

Speaking before the UN Security Council during discussions on renewing the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), Algeria's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Amar Bendjama, affirmed the non-negotiable right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination. He underscored that any attempt to impose a predetermined solution or bypass this inherent right constitutes a serious deviation from international legality and the principles of the United Nations Charter. Ambassador Bendjama highlighted that the right to self-determination is a fundamental, constant, and inalienable right, guaranteed by international law and enshrined in UN resolutions, questioning those who fear submitting the matter to the will of the Sahrawi people.

Ambassador Bendjama strongly condemned maneuvers aimed at legitimizing a colonial fait accompli imposed by force in Western Sahara. He cautioned against transforming political negotiations into a mere mechanism to enforce a predetermined outcome, emphasizing that a true political solution must be just, mutually acceptable, and rooted in international law, considering the legitimate concerns of all parties. The Algerian diplomat criticized the disregard for reservations expressed by Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front regarding the text submitted to the Security Council, viewing this as undermining the essence of negotiation and reducing the political process to a formal procedure that endorses an imposed reality.

Algeria warned against any infringement upon international law concerning sovereignty, asserting that no party can confer a right not legally possessed by an occupying power, nor can occupation and annexation be a source of rights or a basis for acquiring sovereignty. Ambassador Bendjama further emphasized that the document presented to the Council appeared to aim more at legitimizing a de facto situation resulting from the occupation and attempted annexation of a non-self-governing territory, rather than facilitating a balanced political settlement. He also addressed the humanitarian dimension, rejecting attempts to reduce the Sahrawi people's plight to mere statistics, affirming their identity, aspirations, and legitimate right to freedom and self-determination. Algeria reiterated its unwavering commitment to pursuing a just, durable, and mutually acceptable settlement that guarantees the Sahrawi people's inalienable right to self-determination, in accordance with the UN Charter and relevant resolutions. Diplomatic coordination between the permanent missions of Algeria and Russia at the UN is ongoing to collectively counter initiatives and maneuvers against the Sahrawi cause.