Algerian Delegation Gears Up for Lisbon Conference in Solidarity with Western Sahara’s Right to Self-Determination

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | November 21st, 2024 — In a decisive move reaffirming Algeria’s unwavering support for the Sahrawi people, Mohamed Reda Ousahla, Deputy Speaker of the Council of the Nation (Senate) and in charge of external activities, convened a strategic preparatory meeting with members of the parliamentary delegation. The meeting, held under the directives of Saleh Goudjil, Speaker of the Council of the Nation, included representatives from Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad. The primary agenda was finalizing preparations for Algeria’s participation in the 48th European Conference of Coordination Committees of Solidarity with the Sahrawi People (EUCOCO), slated to take place in Lisbon, Portugal, from November 28 to 30, 2024.

This year’s conference, themed “Europe and Africa: Two Continents United for Self-Determination and Independence of Western Sahara, Africa’s Last Colony,” is set to gather hundreds of solidarity advocates. The participants, comprising parliamentarians, academics, journalists, experts, and civil society representatives, aim to bolster international support for the legitimate struggle of the Sahrawi people against Moroccan occupation. Discussions will focus on intensifying advocacy, amplifying awareness, and mobilizing global solidarity to ensure the Sahrawis’ inalienable right to self-determination and independence is realized.

The Algerian delegation from the Council of the Nation, forming part of a joint parliamentary group with the People’s National Assembly (APN), reflects the nation’s commitment to the Sahrawi cause. The delegation will be led by Mohamed Rezda Ousahla and includes the following distinguished members:

• Miloud Hanafi: Chair of the Economic and Financial Affairs Committee,
• Mohamed El Arbi Slimani: Coordinator of non-affiliated parliamentary members,
• Hamza Al-Sayyid Sheikh: Member of the Council of the Nation,
• Samir Zoubeiri: Member of the Council of the Nation,
• Ali Abdelkader: Member of the Council of the Nation,
• Rachid Maalem: Member of the Council of the Nation,
• Abdelnasser Zannaki: Member of the Council of the Nation,
• Abdelnour Derguini: Member of the Council of the Nation.

The EUCOCO conference represents a critical platform for addressing the ongoing challenges faced by the Sahrawi people, including the continued Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara, a territory widely regarded as Africa’s last colony. Algeria’s robust participation underscores its steadfast commitment to African unity, decolonization, and the principles of international justice.

As the Sahrawi struggle persists, the conference aims to strengthen global efforts in advocating for a just resolution to the decades-long conflict. Algeria, a historic proponent of liberation movements, stands at the forefront of this initiative, emphasizing the critical need for international cooperation to uphold the Sahrawis’ fundamental rights and aspirations for an independent state.

A Snapshot of Western Sahara Cause: History, Current Challenges

The Western Sahara conflict is fundamentally a question of decolonization, as defined by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514. Adopted in December 1960, this resolution mandates the rapid and unconditional termination of colonialism in all its forms and asserts the right of all peoples to self-determination.

Western Sahara on the UN List of Non-Self-Governing Territories

Since 1963, Western Sahara has been classified by the United Nations as a non-self-governing territory. This issue falls under the Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly, also known as the Committee on Decolonization, which upholds the inalienable right of self-determination for the inhabitants of such territories.

International Support for a Referendum

The UN, African Union (AU), and European Union (EU) advocate for a referendum to determine the future status of Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), which is recognized by 80 countries, has been a member of the AU since 1982 and a founding member of the OAU upon its establishment in 2002. Morocco, on the other hand, withdrew from the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1982 but rejoined the AU in 2017.

Historical Context and Current Challenges

In 1975, Spain, the former colonial power, withdrew from Western Sahara and transferred control to Morocco and Mauritania under the Madrid Accords of November 14, 1975. These accords were not recognized by the UN and faced opposition from the Polisario Front, which had been resisting both Spanish and Moroccan rule. Mauritania withdrew from its portion of Western Sahara in 1979.

Obstacles to a Referendum

The Polisario Front continued its armed resistance against Moroccan occupation until a ceasefire agreement was negotiated by the UN and AU in 1991. Despite the establishment of the UN Mission for the Organization of a Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), the referendum has not been organized due to persistent Moroccan obstructions. Moroccan occupation forces have continued to violate the rights of the Sahrawi people, obstructing the process of self-determination.

Violation of the 1991 Ceasefire

On November 13, 2020, the Polisario Front was compelled to resume armed action following Moroccan forces’ attack on unarmed Sahrawi protesters in the El Guerguerat buffer zone. This breach of the 1991 ceasefire agreement led the Sahrawi leadership to announce the resumption of armed struggle against the occupying forces, which have ignored international legal standards.

Rejection of the so-called “Moroccan Autonomy Plan”

Morocco’s proposed autonomy plan is firmly rejected by the Sahrawi people, who assert their right to self-determination as guaranteed by the UN Charter. The recent endorsement of the Moroccan plan by France further complicates the situation. Spain’s failure to uphold its historical role as the administering power, as recognized by the UN, has been a significant setback in the quest for a just resolution to the conflict.

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