Polisario Front Rejects Any Initiative That Fails to Guarantee the Sahrawi People’s Right to Self-Determination
BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria | October 18th, 2024 — In a powerful statement issued on Thursday, the Polisario Front categorically rejected any “proposal” or “initiative” that fails to uphold the Sahrawi people’s fundamental right to self-determination and the territorial integrity of Western Sahara. This decisive stance was conveyed in response to a recent briefing by Staffan de Mistura, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy to Western Sahara, during a closed session of the UN Security Council on Wednesday.
The meeting of the permanent office of the Polisario Front’s National Secretariat, led by its Secretary-General and President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), Brahim Ghali, reaffirmed the movement’s unwavering commitment to the Sahrawi cause. Ghali emphasized that any discussions or proposals must strictly adhere to the established legal framework governing the Western Sahara conflict, in line with the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) mandate, which defines the responsibilities of the UN Personal Envoy.
In a firm response to the UN Envoy, the Polisario Front made it clear during their October 3, 2024, meeting that it would not consider or entertain any proposal involving partition or alternatives that fall outside the boundaries of the decolonization process. They explicitly rejected any notion that contradicts the Sahrawi people’s right to determine their future through a free and fair referendum. “The Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination is non-negotiable,” the Front declared, emphasizing that no initiative or proposal that undermines this right or the territorial integrity of Western Sahara would be accepted.
The Front also took the opportunity to remind the international community of Morocco’s illegal actions dating back to October 31, 1975, when Moroccan forces invaded Western Sahara. They highlighted the subsequent unlawful partition of the territory in 1976, when Morocco, in collaboration with Mauritania, flagrantly violated international law. This historical context remains central to the Polisario Front’s rejection of any compromise that fails to recognize the Sahrawi people’s legitimate claim to independence.
Further underscoring the legal basis of its position, the Polisario Front reaffirmed that Western Sahara remains a territory under decolonization, a status recognized by international law and upheld by UN resolutions, African Union (AU) declarations, and most recently by a landmark ruling from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in early October 2024. The ECJ’s ruling invalidated agreements involving the exploitation of Western Sahara’s resources without the consent of the Sahrawi people, reinforcing the legitimacy of the Polisario’s cause and further delegitimizing Morocco’s claims over the region.
The Polisario Front called on the international community, particularly the UN and the AU, to honor their legal and moral obligations to support Western Sahara’s right to self-determination. They urged all countries and international actors to refrain from backing any initiatives that disregard this right and insisted that any future peace process must be anchored in the international legal framework.
The Front concluded by reaffirming its unwavering resolve: “We will continue our legitimate struggle until Western Sahara is fully decolonized, and we urge the international community to side with justice and law.” The statement reflects the Polisario Front’s resolute determination to oppose any deviation from international law, bolstered by recent legal victories, as it remains steadfast in its pursuit of justice and independence for the Sahrawi people.
