Morocco Urges UN to Reassess Sahara Issue, Calls for Regional Peace

"The Sahara is Moroccan by history, law and the free expression of its populations. It is now time for other parties to recognize this and build together a future of peace, stability and cooperation for our region and for our continent," emphasized the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, during the regional seminar of the UN Committee of 24 (C24) for the Pacific, held from May 21 to 23 in Dili, Timor-Leste.

He once again denounced Algeria’s actions. "Despite Morocco’s commitments and the constant efforts of the United Nations, the political process to resolve this regional dispute continues to be hampered by Algeria’s delaying tactics, which, while claiming not to be a party to the conflict, nevertheless plays a central role in it," he pointed out, asserting that Algeria hosts, arms, finances and diplomatically supports the Polisario separatist group, and continues to adopt an unrealistic and destabilizing posture in the Maghreb.

Despite these actions, Morocco is moving forward on this issue. According to the Moroccan diplomat, more than 116 states around the world have expressed explicit support for the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative. About thirty countries have opened general consulates in Laayoune and Dakhla, thus recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over its Southern provinces, he added. Hilale also mentioned the continued examination of the Moroccan Sahara issue by this Committee. According to him, this situation wrongly condemns the file to a fixed reading through a prism disconnected from the profound evolution that this question has experienced and continues to experience.

"As you know, the Kingdom of Morocco has, since its accession to the United Nations, undertaken steps with the 4th Commission and the C24 for the liberation of its Sahara from colonial rule. After nearly two decades of tough negotiations, Morocco was able to recover its Saharan provinces through the Madrid Agreement in November 1975, which the United Nations General Assembly took note of in its resolution 3458B of December 1975," the ambassador recalled.

Furthermore, Hilale observes that the Security Council has definitively ruled out the option of a self-determination referendum, mentioned by some. The UN Secretary-General concluded in his report of February 17, 2000 (S/2000/131) that an "orderly and consensual implementation of the Settlement Plan" was impossible, he emphasized, assuring that the kingdom remains committed to a lasting political solution and adopts a policy of extending a hand to all those who sincerely wish to turn the page on this regional conflict and open the way for mutually beneficial cooperation.