New York, 4 August 2024 (SPS) - The United Nations reaffirmed its position on the Sahrawi issue that it considers as an issue of decolonization and affirmed that Western Sahara’s people have the right to decide their future, according to a report that will be presented by the UN Chief during the 79th session of the General Assembly, scheduled from mid-September.
According to the report of the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, covering the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, the Security Council considers the Sahrawi issue as a “matter of peace and security” calling for a “just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.”
The report underlines that the Sahrawi issue is an unequivocal decolonization issue. Nevertheless, Guterres expressed concern over the situation prevailing in Western Sahara.
“I remain deeply concerned by the developments in Western Sahara. The deteriorated state of affairs has become entrenched and must urgently be reversed, including to avoid any further escalation. The continued hostilities and lack of a ceasefire between Morocco and the Polisario Front remain a major setback to the achievement of a political solution” to this long-standing conflict, lamented UN Chief.
In this respect, he underlined that negotiating a political solution to the conflict is more urgent than ever. “I continue to believe that it is possible to find a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution that will provide the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in accordance with the Security Council’s resolutions,” said Guterres in his report.
The report lamented the absence of data on human rights situation in the occupied Sahrawi territories, underlining that Morocco has refused to grant the representatives of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights access to these territories.