ALGIERS – Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad, and African Affairs, Ahmed Attaf, said the UN Security Council holds two annual sessions on Western Sahara: the first, in April, to assess the work of the UN mission there, and the second, in October, to renew its mandate, noting that Morocco this time sought to exploit the October session to push its agenda by force on the Western Sahara issue and advance its well-known historical objectives.
“The Moroccan objectives consist of eliminating the UN mission, either by dissolving it or radically changing its mandate; the second objective is to impose the so-called ‘autonomy plan’ as the sole framework for seeking a solution to the Western Sahara issue; and the third objective is to definitively eliminate the idea of self-determination for the Sahrawi people,” Attaf told AL24 News channel.
“When we look at the original draft, these Moroccan objectives are clearly evident, which prompted reactions against the draft resolution from many countries, not just Algeria,” he said, adding that “eight countries submitted amendments opposing the draft resolution because it was unfair, unjust, and completely favored one position over the other.”
Attaf emphasized that the situation now, after the adoption of the resolution, is that “the UN mission has neither been dissolved nor disbanded, nor has there been any reconsideration of its mandate. The original draft resolution mentioned a three-month period for the mission, but now the period has been extended to one year, as part of the regular renewal, just as before.”
He also stressed that “Morocco did not succeed in imposing ‘autonomy’ as the exclusive solution to the Western Sahara issue. The final text mentions ‘autonomy,’ but alongside other alternatives, particularly the option proposed by the Sahrawi people.”
In this regard, the Algerian Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said, “The political and diplomatic game is now open. On one hand, there is the ‘autonomy’ proposal, and on the other, there are alternative solutions put forward by the other side, which remain on the table.”
“Morocco sought to link the exercise of the right to self-determination to the framework of ‘autonomy,’ but now the connection that Morocco wanted between ‘autonomy’ and the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination has been severed,” he added.
“Now, the right to self-determination is upheld in accordance with international legitimacy, international law, the UN Charter, and General Assembly Resolution 15/14, which regulates the exercise of peoples’ right to self-determination.”
