{"id":8639,"date":"2024-10-18T09:44:36","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T08:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dzwatch.dz\/?p=8639"},"modified":"2024-10-18T09:44:37","modified_gmt":"2024-10-18T08:44:37","slug":"algeria-reaffirms-support-for-western-saharas-right-to-self-determination-at-the-united-nations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dzwatch.dz\/?p=8639","title":{"rendered":"Algeria Reaffirms Support for Western Sahara\u2019s Right to Self-Determination at the United Nations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New York (United Nations)<\/strong> \u2013 On Wednesday, Algeria reiterated its unwavering support for the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination<\/strong> and for the ongoing efforts of the United Nations<\/strong> to reach a political solution for the Western Sahara issue. This stance was expressed by Algeria\u2019s Permanent Representative to the UN, Amar Benjama\u00e2<\/strong>, during a right-of-reply response to statements made by the Moroccan delegation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In response to what he described as “misleading and stale rhetoric”<\/strong> from Morocco\u2019s representative, Benjama\u00e2 emphasized that the Moroccan delegate deliberately avoided mentioning the term \u201cWestern Sahara\u201d<\/strong> throughout his speech, despite it being the core issue under discussion during the session of the Fourth Committee<\/strong>, the UN body responsible for decolonization and political matters<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MINURSO and Morocco\u2019s Obstruction of the Referendum Process<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Benjama\u00e2 criticized Morocco for refusing to acknowledge the Western Sahara issue<\/strong> and the Sahrawi people\u2019s right to self-determination. “The Moroccan delegate is unable to say the words \u2018Western Sahara\u2019 or \u2018Sahrawi people,\u2019” he noted, pointing out that both the UN Security Council<\/strong> and the General Assembly<\/strong> established the MINURSO mission (United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara)<\/strong> to oversee the identification of eligible voters for a referendum that would allow the people to choose between independence<\/strong> or integration with Morocco<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benjama\u00e2 also asked a direct question: \u201cWho is obstructing MINURSO\u2019s mission?\u201d<\/strong> He reminded the assembly that the mission\u2019s very name underlines its mandate to organize a referendum, not to perpetuate the status quo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Algeria\u2019s Support for the UN\u2019s Efforts and De Mistura\u2019s Mediation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Algerian diplomat reiterated his country\u2019s full support<\/strong> for the UN Secretary-General and his personal envoy, Staffan de Mistura<\/strong>, in their efforts to find a political solution<\/strong> to the conflict in Western Sahara. However, he criticized Morocco\u2019s approach, calling on the Moroccan representative to “consult his country\u2019s official documents, which confirm that Morocco is unwilling to accept any solution to the Sahrawi issue outside of its so-called sovereignty<\/strong> over the territory.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This stance,” Benjama\u00e2 lamented, “contradicts everything we work toward here at the United Nations.”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human Rights Violations in the Occupied Western Sahara<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Benjama\u00e2 highlighted the severe human rights abuses<\/strong> committed by Moroccan authorities in the occupied territory of Western Sahara. He referred to documented violations<\/strong> reported by international and African human rights organizations, which were also mentioned in the latest UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres\u2019s report<\/strong> on Western Sahara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The violations include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n