Overview of Recent Diplomatic Engagements
Recent discussions between representatives from Morocco and the leftist Western Saharan group Frente Polisario took place in Madrid and Washington, highlighting a renewed effort to address the long-standing conflict in Western Sahara. These talks, held in February, included participation from neighboring countries Algeria and Mauritania, and align with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797, passed in October of last year. This resolution calls on all parties to engage in negotiations without preconditions to achieve a politically acceptable solution that ensures the self-determination rights of the Sahrawi people. Notably, the last meeting of this nature occurred in 2019, and there is a growing recognition within the international community that this protracted conflict, lasting over five decades, must finally be resolved.
Nature and Challenges of the Discussions
The discussions were characterized as informal and confidential, conducted in close coordination with the United Nations and the United States. The primary focus was on the implementation of the aforementioned resolution, marking the commencement of a diplomatic process. While it is premature to publicly assess the outcomes of these discussions, it is clear that a sustainable solution must be grounded in well-defined principles, prominently featuring the non-negotiable right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination. This right should be realized through a democratic process that adheres to the resolutions of the General Assembly. Furthermore, the Frente Polisario has strongly rejected any semblance of superficial solutions, particularly those aimed at undermining legitimate national aspirations.
Complicating matters, the United States has been mediating these talks while simultaneously attempting to classify the Frente Polisario as a foreign terrorist organization under the Trump administration. This reflects Morocco's aggressive campaign to discredit the Sahrawi liberation struggle, which they perceive as a lack of political will to seek a peaceful resolution. This campaign also serves as a diversion from the human rights violations reportedly committed by Moroccan security forces in the occupied territories of Western Sahara. The liberation struggle of the Sahrawi people is fundamentally a quest for justice, and unfounded accusations cannot diminish its legitimacy.
The UN Security Council was originally scheduled to discuss the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) on a Friday, but the session was moved up by one day, with another meeting set for the following Thursday. The consultations regarding MINURSO are occurring within the framework of Resolution 2797, which instructs the Secretary-General to provide regular updates to the Security Council and to undertake a strategic review of MINURSO's orientation. The Council typically listens to reports from the personal envoy and the Secretary-General's special representative for Western Sahara, after which members can provide their comments. However, there is a palpable expectation that the Security Council will finally translate its own resolutions into concrete actions that compel Morocco to end its illegal occupation, thereby allowing the Sahrawi people to freely and democratically exercise their inalienable right to self-determination.
Amidst the backdrop of the US and Israel's aggressive actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has positioned himself as a defender of international law, even receiving a 'Global Leader' award from a UN foundation. However, the support of Sánchez's government for Morocco's autonomy plan in 2022, given Spain's historical responsibility in the decolonization of Western Sahara, is perceived as deeply regrettable. This stance has fractured the political consensus in Spain on this issue and contradicts the historical, legal, and moral obligations towards the Sahrawi people. There is hope that the Spanish government will reconsider its position and adhere strictly to international law without exceptions.
Sidi Mohamed Omar is a guest professor in the international master's program 'Peace, Conflict and Development Studies' at Jaume I University in Castelló de la Plana and serves as the diplomatic representative of the Frente Polisario at the United Nations.
As reported by jungewelt.de.
