UN Debate Amplifies Calls for Sahrawi Self-Determination as Western Sahara Conflict Intensifies

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | October 10th, 2024 — The Fourth Committee of the United Nations, responsible for Special Political and Decolonization Affairs, convened in New York this Tuesday to address the ongoing conflict in Western Sahara. The debate saw a strong showing of international petitioners advocating for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination, demanding an end to Morocco’s prolonged occupation of the territory.

Notable figures such as Sidi Mohamed Omar, the representative of the Polisario Front to the UN, were joined by representatives from various organizations, including the Communist Party of the United States, the Colombian Foundation for Friendship with the Sahrawi People, the Ecuadorian Association for Solidarity with the Sahrawi People, the International League of Jurists for Western Sahara, and the Algerian Academy of Youth, among others. Their unified message underscored the Sahrawi people’s legal right to self-determination, grounded in numerous UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, as well as international judicial rulings.

Central to the discussions was the legal status of Western Sahara, a non-self-governing territory under UN purview, and the recent European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling, which invalidated commercial agreements between the European Union and Morocco. The ruling, celebrated as a significant legal victory for the Sahrawi cause, emphasized the illegality of agreements made without the consent of the Sahrawi people and reaffirmed their sovereignty over natural resources.

Sidi Mohamed Omar, in his address, hailed the ECJ’s decision as a “historic victory for the Sahrawi people’s legitimate struggle for self-determination and independence.” He further characterized the ruling as a triumph of “justice and the rule of law over injustice and power politics.” Omar called on EU member states and institutions to fully respect the court’s ruling and to avoid actions that might further legitimize Morocco’s illegal occupation of Western Sahara. “The time has come to be on the right side of history,” Omar stated, urging nations committed to international law to reject and condemn Morocco’s ongoing occupation.

Many speakers lamented the ongoing human rights abuses in the occupied territories and the continued plundering of Western Sahara’s natural resources by Moroccan authorities. Several petitioners called for greater international oversight of human rights violations in the region and stressed the need for a timely resolution to Africa’s last remaining colony. They called for the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), a founding member of the African Union, to exercise full sovereignty over its national territory.

In his remarks, Omar also highlighted the recent visit of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to the occupied territories, which aimed to facilitate dialogue between the Polisario Front and Morocco. Omar reaffirmed that the Sahrawi people remain steadfast in their pursuit of a just and lasting peace but will continue their liberation struggle through all legitimate means to achieve full independence.

The Fourth Committee’s discussions on Western Sahara will continue until next Monday, during which more petitioners are expected to present their views on the decolonization of the territory, along with other global decolonization issues on the UN’s agenda. As the debate progresses, the international community is being urged to intensify pressure on Morocco to end its illegal occupation and to uphold the Sahrawi people’s inalienable right to self-determination.

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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