Johannesburg, 7 December 2020 (SPS) - The African leaders reiterated their support to the Sahrawi cause, strongly condemning the violation of the ceasefire agreement by the Moroccan occupation authorities following the military aggression in El-Gueguerat, and called for the holding of a self-determination referendum in Western Sahara.
Concerned by the continuation of the Moroccan violations in occupied Western Sahara, notably in El-Guerguerat, several African leaders demanded an end of the Moroccan occupation in their speeches during the 14th extraordinary session of the AU Heads of State and Government Conference on “Silencing guns in Africa,” held on Sunday by videoconference.
President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) Brahim Ghali informed his African counterparts about the latest events on the Sahrawi issue after the Moroccan brutal aggression in flagrant violation of the ceasefire, considering it “a Moroccan defiance and rebellion against Africa’s decisions and its aspirations to silence the guns and to focus on the battle for the continent’s development and prosperity.”
South African President, AU’s acting chairman Cyril Ramaphosa expressed “the African continent’s concern over the speeding-up of the events in Western Sahara in the light of the resumption of the armed clashes after the Moroccan aggression in El-Guerguerat.
Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad expressed “his deep concern” about the recent events and their threat to peace and security in the entire region, renewing Algeria’s position of principle, which supports the end of colonialism in Western Sahara.
For his part, the Prime Minister of Lesotho also expressed his country’s support to the Sahrawi cause and full solidarity with the struggle of the Sahrawi people for self-determination and independence.
Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa demanded “an immediate and decolonization” of Western Sahara.
Namibia’s vice-president renewed his country’s full solidarity with the struggle of the Sahrawi people and SADR for freedom and independence, while Botswana’s Foreign minister denounced the Moroccan aggression against the Sahrawi peaceful demonstrators who demonstrated to demand their legitimate rights.
The Republic of Uganda called to “condemn” the Moroccan occupier and to end Western Sahara’s colonization.
Through its Foreign minister’s voice, Kenya underlined its full support to Lesotho’s proposal and called on the African Union “to assume its responsibilities, notably the African Peace and Security Council.”
Angola firmly supports the Sahrawi people’s struggle, reiterated its Foreign Minister Antonio Tete.
For her part, South African Minister of Foreign Affairs Nalidi Bandor called on the UN secretary general to assume his responsibilities and appoint a special envoy for Western Sahara as soon as possible to implement the UN resolutions, notably the speeding-up of the organization of a free and fair referendum.
In a speech that he read on behalf of the Mozambican president, the head of the Mozambican delegation affirms his full support to the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and independence.
Nigeria expressed its deep concern over the military clashes between SADR and Morocco. (SPS)
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