The Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced Persons, and Migrants in Africa, Salma Sassi, expressed deep appreciation for the interventions made by the Sahrawi Republic and Algeria during the 83rd Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) held in Banjul.
Asylum Seekers particularly praised the presentation by Sahrawi Ambassador Malainin Lakhal for its “valuable intervention” and accurate data on the impact of prolonged displacement, especially on women and children.
Describing the Sahrawi refugee crisis as one of the oldest unresolved cases in Africa and globally, the Rapporteur stressed the urgent need for a durable political solution. She reaffirmed the Commission’s solidarity with the Sahrawi people and confirmed that her office is actively considering the invitation to visit Sahrawi refugee camps, despite existing logistical and political challenges.
Ambassador Lakhal emphasized the political roots of the refugee crisis, attributing it to Morocco’s decades-long illegal occupation of Western Sahara and the violent displacement of the Sahrawi people. He warned against the politicization of humanitarian aid and reaffirmed the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
Algerian representative Cherif Dehimi echoed these sentiments, reaffirming Algeria’s principled support and ongoing humanitarian assistance to the Sahrawi refugees.
