Addis Ababa, Jan 21, 2014 (SPS) - The African Union’s Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) has adopted the Annual Report of the African Union Commission for 2013, expressing support for "a solution to the conflict in Western Sahara which provides for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara."
In a statement to SPS after the adoption of the report, the Saharawi Permanent Representative to the AU and Ambassador in Ethiopia, Mr. Lamine Baali, stated that the AUC "is tightly following the developments of the situation in the last colony in Africa, and has in fact undertaken concrete actions in the past year in this regard."
He added that the paragraph dedicated to the issue of Western Sahara in the AUC Annual report “reiterated the OAU/AU’s earlier decisions and pronouncements, notably the call for direct negotiations between the two Parties, without preconditions and in good faith, with a view to achieving a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution”, according to the terms of the text of the report.
“Such solution should, provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara”, the text emphasised.
The report also “requested the AUC Chairperson to undertake further consultations with the Parties, and continue interactions with the United Nations, and other relevant international stakeholders”.
It recalled that “the issue was discussed in New York, in September 2013, on the margins of the General Assembly, with the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy”, mainly to reiterate the African Union support of a solution to the conflict that respects the international legality and the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination.
“Apart from the key issue of self-determination of the people of Western Sahara –The paragraph of the report adds- the question of the establishment of a mechanism to monitor the human rights situation in the territory has continued to engage the attention of the International Community and requires sustained efforts”.
“Meanwhile, the Commission’s attention was drawn to the signing of an agreement between Morocco and the European Union, which grants fishing rights to the latter in Saharawi territory. The AU Commission wrote to the EU seeking explanation on this matter.”
The Saharawi diplomat, on other hand, indicated that the national issue was present in the discussions of the past PRC meetings, as it will be present in the discussions of the AU Executive Council and coming Summit in the end of January. (SPS)
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