New York, April 27,2016 (SPS) - The Special Envoy of African Union for Western Sahara, Joaquim Chissano, yesterday urged the UN to urgently resolve the conflict of Western Sahara and criticized the measures taken by Rabat against UN mission (MINURSO).
Joaquim Chissano met yesterday with the Security Council in an informal meeting at the request of Angola and Venezuela, on the eve of the Security Council renewal of the mandate of MINURSO before the end of this month.
Joaquim Chissano criticized Rabat's decision to expel 84 civilian members of the mission, and considered it as « very dangerous precedent."
AU envoy warned the Council about the consequences that can cause the current deadlock leading to the "growing frustration in the Saharawi refugee camps and risks of military escalation in the region.
Joaquim Chissano regretted that any progress not yet made in the organization of a referendum of self-determination of the Saharawi people which is the mission that was assigned to MINURSO.
"We must ensure that the people of Western Sahara have the opportunity to freely choose their destiny," said Chissano
Former President of Mozambique requested the Security Council to include the protection of human rights in the mandate of MINURSO, to set a date for the referendum and to denounce "illegal exploitation of natural resources of Western Sahara by Morocco.SPS
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