UN Fourth Committee: African, Asian Nations Reaffirm Support for Sahrawi People’s Right to Self-Determination
African and Asian countries reiterated on Tuesday, during discussions of the UN General Assembly’s Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee), their “firm support” for the Sahrawi people’s inalienable right to self-determination and independence.
South Africa reiterated its “firm support for the decolonization of Western Sahara,” urging the United Nations to “accelerate the holding of the self-determination referendum for the Sahrawi people, which is their fundamental right under international law.
Addressing the Fourth Committee, the South African representative expressed his country’s deep concern over the situation in Western Sahara, describing it as Africa’s last remaining colony.
“South Africa attaches great importance to the self-determination of the Sahrawi people, as it remains a sacred principle that applies to situations beyond the African continent,” he said.
For his part, the representative of Uganda reaffirmed “his country’s support for the universally recognized principles of the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and for constructive approaches aimed at seeking a peaceful solution to the conflict through dialogue and political means, as recommended by the United Nations.” He also emphasized “the need for the international community to work together to create a conducive political environment and a solid framework for the exercise by the Sahrawi people of their right to self-determination, in order to guarantee regional and international peace.” For his part, the representative of Mozambique emphasized that his country “remains deeply concerned by the lack of progress toward self-determination in Western Sahara.” He notably reaffirmed “Mozambique’s unwavering support for the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, resolution 1514 (XV) and all relevant resolutions of the African Union (AU) and the UN.” The representative of Timor-Leste expressed “her country’s particular concern about the situation in Western Sahara, recognized as the last colony in Africa.” The diplomat urged that MINURSO’s (the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) mandate be strengthened to include a human rights monitoring component, while ensuring humanitarian access and fostering diplomatic dialogue in full compliance with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
Moreover, the Iranian representative reaffirmed the United Nations’ responsibility toward the people of Western Sahara and their inalienable right to self-determination, as stipulated in the relevant UN resolutions.
In this regard, the Iranian representative called for “a serious and responsible commitment to conduct negotiations under UN auspices, in good faith and without preconditions, in accordance with the United Nations Charter, with the aim of reaching a just, lasting, comprehensive and mutually acceptable solution.”
