Western Sahara: Senators call on US President Biden to stop supplying arms to Morocco/ Letter
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- A group of senators has taken a stand against the illegal occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco. Under the banner “put an end to the Moroccan occupation,” these senators have written a letter to President Joe Biden, urging him to stop supplying arms and foreign aid to the Kingdom of Morocco until it ceases its brutal and illegal occupation of Western Sahara and puts an end to its continued human rights violations against innocent civilians, a report from the news website La Patrie News indicated.
This letter is a damning indictment of the Cherifian kingdom’s actions. The occupied territories have been turned into an open-air prison, with no foreigner allowed to set foot there. Even the personal envoy of the UN SG, Staffan de Mistura, was denied access. The urgency to act is clear, yet the mission of MINURSO has not been extended to include respect for human rights.
The senators remind President Biden of his promise that his administration would be guided by the principles of human rights and respect for international law. They call on him to take action against the despotic regime in Rabat, which has committed many odious acts that are perfectly documented, yet the world community has done nothing to put an end to them or even sanction the regime.
It is time for the United States to take a stand against the illegal occupation of Western Sahara and to support the human rights of innocent civilians. The senators’ letter is a powerful call to action, and we hope that President Biden will heed it.
“Supplying arms to Morocco is incompatible with the objectives of your administration, which would rather help a kingdom that has illegally invaded a non-self-governing territory. The Biden administration should not aid the invader against those who defend their homeland, and such a policy would be inconsistent with the U.S. position against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”
It is unacceptable for the Biden administration to aid an invader against those who defend their homeland. Such a policy would be inconsistent with the U.S. position against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The West’s policy of double standards regarding the question of the decolonization of Western Sahara has been denounced by many voices since the outbreak of the armed conflict in Ukraine.
Instead, the Senate urged the Biden administration to denounce Morocco’s ongoing violent aggression against the Sahrawi population and immediately open an investigation into the crimes and aggression perpetrated by the Kingdom of Morocco. These crimes and assaults have further increased in recent years, and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) had no choice but to militarily defend its people and territory after Morocco violated the decades-long ceasefire by openly attacking unarmed Sahrawi civilians in November 2020.
“Furthermore, we were shocked by the potential arms sales to Morocco, which include High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and related equipment at an estimated cost of $524.2 million and Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOW) and related equipment at an estimated cost of $250 million. The certification of these two potential sales submitted by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency states that “the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not change the basic military balance in the region.” However, it is important to note that the sale of these weapons will only escalate the conflict and further harm the Sahrawi people.”
The proposed sale of US arms to the Moroccan Armed Forces has raised concerns about the balance of power in the ongoing conflict between Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The inclusion of HIMARS and other tactical missile systems would give the Moroccan forces a significant advantage in striking SADR targets, while the SADR army lacks comparable defense systems. This sale would also send a message to the international community that the US is taking sides in the conflict.
It is alarming to note that the Moroccan occupying forces are already receiving advanced ballistic weapons from the Zionist occupying forces. If the US arms sale goes through, it would further entrench Washington’s position in the conflict and undermine its ability to act as an impartial mediator in the UN Security Council.
In light of these concerns, the letter calls for a meeting with the US President and leaders of the media-politics campaign to discuss the implications of the arms sale. The signatories, including Bill Fletcher, Jr., and Suzanne Scholte, co-chair the campaign to end the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara.
It is crucial that the US carefully consider the impact of its actions on the ongoing conflict and the people affected by it. The sale of arms should not be used to take sides or further destabilize the region. Instead, the US should work towards a peaceful resolution that respects the rights and self-determination of the Sahrawi people.
