British Government Reaffirms Support for Sahrawi People’s Just Cause
The newly elected British government, led by the Labour Party, has reiterated its support for the United Nations’ efforts to achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution between Morocco and the Polisario Front. This solution aims to ensure the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
This position was expressed in a written response by Hamish Falconer, Under-Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), to a question posed by MP Ben Lake, a member of the Parliamentary Group in Solidarity with the Sahrawi People. The query addressed the UK’s stance on Western Sahara and human rights issues in the region, which the UN designates as a non-self-governing territory.
Hamish Falconer stated, ” The UK supports UN-led efforts to reach a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, based on compromise, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.”
He added, “The UK also supports the work of Staffan de Mistura, Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara. Officials regularly discuss Western Sahara with international partners, the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, the UN and civil society. We will continue to encourage constructive engagement with the political process.”
Falconer emphasized that the United Kingdom is “committed to promoting respect for international humanitarian law worldwide,” backing “all relevant UN Security Council resolutions that urge parties to make continued efforts to advance and protect human rights in Western Sahara, including freedom of expression and association.”
The Polisario Front welcomed this stance through its representative in the United Kingdom, Sidi Breika, who expressed appreciation in a statement to the Algerian Press Service (APS). He stated, “The British government’s principled stance is rooted in upholding the Sahrawi people’s inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with international legitimacy, international law, humanitarian law, and relevant UN resolutions.”
