Former diplomat and U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has called for the organization of a self-determination referendum in Western Sahara to safeguard the region’s security. He stressed that failing to resolve this conflict could have significant repercussions for the stability of Africa, which would, in turn, impact Europe.
In an interview on Tuesday with Spanish journalist Hector Santorum for “Sahara Occidental Radio Revolucion,” Bolton stated, “What was undertaken in 1991 was clear: to grant the Sahrawi people the right to determine their own destiny. This referendum was not intended to divide a country in two; Morocco and Western Sahara have always been distinct entities.”
The former diplomat asserted that denying this territory the opportunity to hold a referendum represents “a blatant injustice.” He emphasized the necessity of a “just and sustainable solution,” insisting that “keeping the Sahrawis in refugee camps cannot be considered an acceptable option.”
Bolton noted that “Morocco, despite having agreed in 1991, refuses to conduct a self-determination referendum.” The resolutions from the Security Council have consistently called for organizing such a referendum for the Sahrawi people. Nevertheless, Morocco has relied on a fait accompli approach and obstructed this process for over thirty years.
Furthermore, Bolton warned that the situation in Western Sahara is closely tied to the stability of the Sahel region and Morocco’s expansionist ambitions, as illustrated by certain Moroccan maps.
“As long as this chaos persists in a vital part of Africa, the risk of instability spreading across the continent or reaching Europe remains very real,” he cautioned, adding that “Europe, due to its geographical proximity, should pay much more attention to this issue.”
When asked about France’s support for Morocco’s occupation stance, Bolton remarked, “A country that claims to be a democracy should not oppose the Sahrawi people’s right to vote.”
Regarding the absence of a human rights monitoring mechanism within MINURSO, Bolton explained, “When the Mission was created, we believed it would have a short-term mandate: to verify the Spanish census of 1975, organize the referendum, and ensure a safe environment. Its role was thus to maintain peace and security, create a safe environment for the referendum, and guarantee that the process was free and transparent—an obligation that falls under human rights.”
Commenting on Morocco’s attempts to discredit the Polisario Front, the former American diplomat noted that all such efforts had failed when subjected to rigorous international scrutiny by UN observers, asserting that Morocco’s accusations are baseless.
Bolton also commended the actions of the Polisario Front, which “has succeeded in keeping Western governments and the African Union (AU) informed of its position while maintaining near-total unity in Africa regarding the fact that the referendum is the only solution.” He added that the Polisario Front is not demanding substantial concessions from Morocco but merely the implementation of what has already been agreed upon.
