Western Sahara: France Must Defend the Sahrawi People’s Right to Self-Determination
In a strong statement, the French Communist Party denounces the MINURSO impasse, criticizes French diplomacy's alignment with U.S. policy, and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the Sahrawi people's inalienable right to self-determination.
In the wake of recent high-level debates at the United Nations, the French Communist Party has issued a sharp critique of international paralysis, accusing France of blindly following Washington and urging an immediate return to the pillars of international law.
Following the UN Security Council meeting on October 30 and the subsequent General Assembly debate on November 10, the French Communist Party (PCF) released a powerful statement reaffirming its steadfast commitment to the Sahrawi people’s inalienable right to self-determination. The party also renewed its full solidarity with the Polisario Front as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi struggle.
The PCF strongly condemned the Security Council's failure to renew the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), viewing it as a severe blow to ongoing decolonization efforts. However, the party stressed that this setback does not alter the legal status of the territory, which remains officially listed by the UN as a non-self-governing territory, with Moroccan sovereignty receiving no recognition under international law. True to its principles, the statement underscores that no lasting solution can be imposed by sidelining the foundational right to a self-determination referendum.
Directing its critique at the government, the PCF denounced what it terms a policy of diplomatic subordination to the United States. By aligning with Washington to endorse the Moroccan autonomy plan, France is accused of straying from its universal values and applying a blatant double standard. The party firmly urged the French government to reject fait accompli tactics, warning that trade, energy, and green-transition partnerships must never be weaponized to legitimize occupation or bypass the rights of the Sahrawi population.
Citing the precedent of France’s recognition of the State of Palestine despite fierce allied opposition, the PCF called upon the country to display the exact same political independence regarding Western Sahara. The message concludes on an unequivocal note: international law cannot be applied selectively, and the Sahrawi people must be granted the ultimate freedom to shape their own future.
Wissem Chergui
