Dili (Timor-Leste), May 18, 2024 - The Ambassador of Timor-Leste to the UN, H.E. Dr. Dionisio Da Costa Babo, who attended the regional Seminar of the UN Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24), that took place in Caracas, Venezuela from 14-16 May 2024, related to Western Sahara, called for the full implementation of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) mandate to enable a democratic exercise of self-determination by the people of the Western Sahara to choose their own destiny
“On the issue of Western Sahara, which is recognized as the final colony in Africa, it is important to expedite its decolonization, particularly by supporting the affirmation of the UN's framework backing the self-determination of the Sahrawi people. Moreover, the Special Committee should utilize multilateral efforts, including those of the African Union, to mediate the conflict between the two African Union members, the Sahrawi Republic and Morocco, with the goal of achieving a peaceful and enduring resolution consistent with the AU Constitutive Act and relevant OAU/AU resolutions,” he emphasized.
“Given the lack of official visits to Western Sahara by the Committee since 1975, it is important for the Special Committee to arrange a visit to the region to thoroughly assess the current situation. Recent escalations underscore the necessity of bolstering the UN presence in the region, including integrating human rights monitoring within the mandate of MINURSO. Ongoing dialogues and negotiations among relevant parties are crucial to advancing the decolonization process in Western Sahara, he further said.
In closing, Timor-Leste echoes the calls for the full implementation of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) mandate to enable a democratic exercise of self-determination by the people of the Western Sahara to choose their own destiny. We urge all involved parties to support the UN peace process in Western Sahara and protect their fundamental human rights, including the right to control their own natural resources.
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