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Rabat – Weeks before the Security Council’s vote on a new resolution, many countries took to the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee to reaffirm their confidence that the Moroccan Autonomy Plan is the only possible way to end the dispute over Western Sahara.
On Tuesday, Saint Lucia reiterated this position before the committee, supporting the autonomy initiative as a definitive solution to the regional dispute.
Carlton Rooney Henry, Saint Lucia’s representative, said his country supports the initiative as a means to achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution.
He also expressed support for the UN-led political process and UN envoy Staffan de Mistura’s efforts aimed at facilitating the political process.
He stated that the settlement of the dispute can only take place within the exclusive framework of the UN, calling on all parties to engage constructively and in good faith in the process
Saint Lucia’s remarks come as Algeria’s regime continues to obstruct the process, as it holds on to its long-standing position that a solution should be discussed between Polisario and Morocco.
Algeria’s regime has long distanced itself from the dispute and refused to shoulder responsibility in the conflict despite its well-documented and unwavering logistical, financial, and military support for the Polisario Front.
This support is evident not only in the Algerian establishment’s ideological endorsement of the separatist group’s claims in Western Sahara, but also in the millions of dollars’ worth of aid and military equipment it provides to the Polisario.
The UN’s latest report on the situation in Western Sahara once again pointed out Algeria’s obstruction of the UN-led political process.
Algerian “Foreign Minister Attaf reiterated his government’s continued support for direct talks between Morocco and Frente Polisario under the aegis of the United Nations, with the presence of Algeria and Mauritania,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said of his personal Sahara envoy’s recent meeting with the top Algerian diplomat.
Meanwhile, Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune reiterated his regime’s stance on October 9, stating that his country “will never abandon Western Sahara.”
“Let them insult us and threaten us, we will not abandon Western Sahara,” he said, alleging that the Sahara dossier is a “question of decolonization issue, it is Africa’s last colony.”
This comes amid unwavering support from many countries that view Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as the only framework to realistically end the dispute.
Like Saint Lucia, several countries used the UN Fourth Committee to affirm their support for Morocco’s initiative.
Saudi Arabia said on Monday that it supports the initiative within the framework of Morocco’s sovereignty.
Togo recently echoed the same statement, describing the Moroccan autonomy plan as the “most credible, realistic, and pragmatic basis” for achieving a lasting political solution. Gabon also reitrated its support for Morocco’s initiative. The initiative is in line with international law and UN Security Council resolutions. Gabon also recalled that the autonomy plan enjoys growing support within the international community.
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