Algerian Council of the Nation Joins European Conference in Support of Sahrawi Self-Determination

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | November 28th, 2024 — Under the directives of Salah Goudjil, Speaker of the Council of the Nation, an Algerian parliamentary delegation is participating in the 48th European Conference of Solidarity Committees with the Sahrawi People (EUCOCO). The event, held from November 28 to 30 in Lisbon, Portugal, convenes hundreds of advocates for the Sahrawi cause, including parliamentarians, academics, journalists, and civil society representatives.

This year’s conference, themed “Europe and Africa: Two Continents United to Defend Self-Determination and Independence for Western Sahara, the Last Colony in Africa”, emphasizes the unified commitment of global voices to ending colonial occupation and ensuring the Sahrawi people’s inalienable right to self-determination.

The Algerian delegation, led by Mohamed Reza Ousahla, Vice President of the Council of the Nation in charge of external relations, is part of a joint parliamentary mission with members from both chambers of the Algerian Parliament. They aim to reinforce Algeria’s unwavering support for the Sahrawi cause, a central pillar of the country’s foreign policy.

The conference agenda comprises four key workshops:

1. Strengthening the Sahrawi State – addressing political, institutional, and diplomatic mechanisms.
2. Human Rights in Occupied Territories – focusing on violations under Moroccan occupation.
3. Policy and Advocacy – enhancing international solidarity efforts.
4. Natural Resources – combating the exploitation of Western Sahara’s resources.

The Algerian delegation, representing a diverse group of legislators, reflects the country’s steadfast solidarity. Members include Miloud Hanafi, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Affairs Committee, and Hamza Al Sayyed Sheikh, among others.

This year’s EUCOCO conference builds on decades of advocacy, aiming to amplify global pressure on Morocco to comply with international resolutions. By bringing together diverse voices, the event seeks to intensify efforts toward achieving justice and freedom for Western Sahara.

Western Sahara: A Prolonged Struggle for Decolonization and Self-Determination Amid Geopolitical Obstruction

The Western Sahara conflict stands as a stark issue of decolonization, firmly anchored in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514. This pivotal resolution, adopted in December 1960, unequivocally calls for the swift and unconditional eradication of colonialism in all its manifestations and upholds the inherent right of all peoples to self-determination. Since 1963, the UN has classified Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory, with its future status subject to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter. The Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly, charged with addressing decolonization, continues to affirm the Sahrawi people’s inalienable right to determine their destiny.

The international community, including the United Nations, the African Union (AU), and the European Union (EU), has consistently supported the organization of a referendum to decide Western Sahara’s political future. As the last remaining colony in Africa, the territory represents an unfinished chapter in the global fight against colonialism. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), recognized by over 80 countries, has been a steadfast member of the AU since 1982, playing a significant role in the organization’s efforts to uphold the principles of self-determination. Morocco’s withdrawal from the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1982, followed by its re-entry into the AU in 2017, underscores the complexity and contentiousness of the issue.

The roots of the conflict can be traced to 1975, when Spain, as the colonial power, relinquished control of Western Sahara, transferring authority to Morocco and Mauritania under the Madrid Accords. These accords, however, lacked UN recognition and faced staunch opposition from the Polisario Front, which had been actively resisting both Spanish and Moroccan dominance. Mauritania’s subsequent withdrawal from its portion of the territory in 1979 further underscored the fragile and disputed nature of these arrangements.

Despite the 1991 ceasefire agreement brokered by the UN and AU, Moroccan intransigence has repeatedly obstructed efforts to hold a referendum. The establishment of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was a significant step forward, yet its mandate remains unrealized as Morocco continues to undermine the process of self-determination. The occupying forces have persistently violated the rights of the Sahrawi people, exacerbating tensions and undermining the legitimacy of international efforts to resolve the conflict.

Tensions escalated dramatically on November 13, 2020, when Moroccan forces attacked unarmed Sahrawi protesters in the El Guerguerat buffer zone, breaching the terms of the 1991 ceasefire. This provocation compelled the Polisario Front to resume armed resistance against Moroccan occupation, reigniting hostilities in a conflict that has persisted for decades. The Sahrawi leadership has reiterated its commitment to resisting occupation and pursuing its legitimate right to independence, as enshrined in international law.

Morocco’s so-called “autonomy plan” has been unequivocally rejected by the Sahrawi people, who view it as a direct violation of their right to self-determination. The recent endorsement of this plan by France and Spain’s failure to fulfill its historical responsibility as the administering power, as recognized by the UN, have further complicated the path toward a just resolution. These actions undermine the credibility of international law and highlight the persistent geopolitical manipulation that impedes a fair and lasting solution to the conflict.

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