Decolonization of Western Sahara: AU historical, political, moral and legal roles at center of discussions
By: Hana Saada
ALGIERS– The Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mr. Musa Fakih Mohamed, received, on Tuesday, member of the National Secretariat of the Polisario Front, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Mohamed Sidati, at the headquarters of the African Union, in Addis Ababa.
The meeting focused on the role of the African Union in implementing the various decisions of the policy-making bodies related to the issue of Western Sahara, and the historical, political, moral and legal roles of the continental organization to advance the path of decolonization of Western Sahara, the last colony in Africa.
Mr. Mohamed Sidati briefed the Chairperson of the African Commission, on the developments of the current situation in Western Sahara, highlighting the ongoing war between the two countries, members of the African Union, due to Morocco’s violation of the ceasefire on November 13, 2020, and its continued illegal occupation of parts of the territory of the Sahrawi Republic.
The Sahrawi minister recalled the African initiative that was adopted by the United Nations as the basis for the peace agreement signed between the Polisario Front and the Kingdom of Morocco in 1991, which called for a referendum to decide the fate of the Sahrawi people in accordance with international law.
Mr. Mohamed Sidati also briefed the Chairperson of the AU Commission on the most important decisions adopted by the 16th Congress of the Polisario Front, which re-elected Mr. Brahim Ghali, as Secretary General of the Polisario Front, and President of the Republic, stressing the continuation of the armed struggle until the liberation and extension of the sovereignty of the Sahrawi Republic over its entire territory.
The Sahrawi Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that the Sahrawi Republic will remain faithful to its obligations towards the continental organization, out of its belief in the role of the African Union and its contribution to establishing and spreading peace, security and stability in Africa.
The Sahrawi minister referred to the responsibility of the African Union as a partner to the United Nations in the efforts aimed at establishing a lasting and just peace based on the Sahrawi people’s exercise of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs called on the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to pay special attention to the human rights situation in the occupied parts of the Sahrawi territory, as well as the conditions of the Sahrawi refugees in accordance with the requirements of the relevant African Union decisions.
The meeting was attended, on the African side, by Professor Mohamed El Hassan Ould Labat, Director of the Cabinet of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and, on the Sahrawi side, Mr. Mohamed Yeslam Besset, Ambassador of the SADR in South Africa in charge of the African Union, and Mr. Laman Abaali, Ambassador of the SADR to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union.
