Washington, 29 February 2020 (SPS) - The African Union (AU) is committed to holding a self-determination referendum in Western Sahara, said US Senator Jim Inhofe (Republican of Oklahoma), who led a delegation to Africa to discuss, among other things, the "importance of a constant military cooperation continues" in the region.
After traveling with Senators Mike Rounds and John Boozman, as well as Representatives Kelly and Tim Walberg to Uganda, Ghana and Mauritania, Jim Inhofe said: "In each country, I have discussed the future of Western Sahara", occupied by Morocco since 1975.
For Jim Inhofe, who is also chairman of the Senate Defense Commission, "the African Union (AU) has been clear: Western Sahara should hold a referendum on self-determination. During my meetings over the years, it is clear that a large majority of our partners in Africa support the self-determination of the Sahrawi people."
He added: "Over the years, Morocco has spent countless hours and dollars in its lobbying efforts to legitimize its illegal claim in Western Sahara: it is time for the Trump administration to put aside this obsolete mentality and support a democratic referendum."
Jim Inhofe has repeatedly expressed concern over the stalemated peace process in Western Sahara. During a visit with fellow senators to the Sahrawi refugee camps three years ago (February 2017), Jim Inhofe was received by President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, as part of the celebration of the 41st anniversary of the proclamation of the SADR. (SPS)
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