Geneva, Feb 26, 2020 (SPS) - The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa, Alvin Botes, expressed on Tuesday his country's concern about the persistence of the illegal occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco, for almost four decades.
In his speech at the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the South African diplomat denounced the flagrant violation of international law which undermines the efforts of the international community to resolve the conflict in Western Sahara, affirming that "Pretoria hopes to contribute in an effective way, and gives an impulse to the Saharawi people to obtain their right to self-determination".
For Mr. Botes, the deterioration of the human rights situation in this last colony in Africa, arouses much interest from the South African government, which "once again renews its call to all international parties to ensure that the Saharawi people enjoy the rights provided for by international law in order to obtain their right to independence and peace".
He reiterated the firm support of his country, for the struggle of the Saharawi people, and the path of settlement as defined by international law and the United Nations and Security Council resolutions relating to the file.
It should be noted that South Africa is one of the most active countries of the Geneva Group to support Western Sahara, and works strongly at the level of the UN, and international organizations to defend the rights of the Saharawi people. , highlighting the reality of human rights violations and the looting of natural resources in the occupied parts of Western Sahara.
The Geneva Group includes countries with diplomatic relations with the Sahrawi Democratic Republic (SADR). SPS
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