Algeria’s El-Bina El-Watani Condemns French Endorsement of Moroccan Autonomy Plan as Violation of International Law
✏️ By: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria | July 27th, 2024 — The El-Bina El-Watani party has issued a robust condemnation of the French government’s recent endorsement of Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara, denouncing it as a flagrant breach of UN Security Council resolutions and multiple international agreements. The party asserts that France’s stance represents a troubling return to colonial-era practices, undermining both international legitimacy and the fundamental rights of the Sahrawi people.
In a comprehensive statement, El-Bina El-Watani criticized France’s decision as a revival of outdated colonial logic that stands in stark opposition to the principles of freedom and independence upheld by modern international law. The party emphasized that France’s endorsement is a direct contradiction to established UN resolutions supporting the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and the cessation of Moroccan colonial rule.
The party further accused Moroccan authorities of employing illegitimate methods to legitimize their continued occupation of Sahrawi territories. It condemned the French decision as “ill-considered and contrary to the principles of humanity and democracy,” expressing apprehension that it will obstruct the United Nations and Security Council’s efforts to address the conflict. The endorsement, El-Bina El-Watani argued, will facilitate Morocco’s ongoing violations of Sahrawi rights and exploitation of their resources.
El-Bina El-Watani has urged the French government to reconsider its position, arguing that it fails to reflect the values of the French people or the republican ideals of “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.” Instead, it reflects a disturbing nostalgia for France’s colonial past.
The party also called upon national and international bodies committed to upholding the will of the people to publicly condemn this biased and conspiratorial decision. El-Bina El-Watani stressed the urgent need for global solidarity with the Sahrawi people in their pursuit of justice, land, and sovereignty.
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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