UN General Assembly Adopts Resolution Reaffirming the Legal Framework of the Western Sahara Issue as a Decolonization Matter

The United Nations General Assembly, in its 79th session, adopted a resolution on the Western Sahara issue, once again reaffirming that it falls under the framework of decolonization, as part of the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.

The General Assembly took note of the Secretary-General’s report, which confirmed that the issue of Western Sahara continues to be classified as a decolonization matter. The Assembly also reiterated its commitment to previous UN resolutions, including Security Council Resolution 690 (1991), which established the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO).

Furthermore, the General Assembly emphasized the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and called on the Special Committee on the Situation of the Decolonization to continue monitoring the issue and present a new report at the next session.

In a statement following the adoption of the resolution, Dr. Sidi Mohamed Amar, the Sahrawi representative to the United Nations, emphasized that the resolution strengthens the international legal position on the Western Sahara issue and serves as a response to Morocco’s attempts to alter the international status of the case. He added that this decision reflects the UN’s support for the Sahrawi people’s right to independence.