New York (UN), October 5, 2024 (SPS) - Several delegations emphasized the importance of closing the chapter on colonialism and expressed their support for the 17 non-self-governing territories at the beginning of the general debate of the United Nations Special Political and Decolonization Committee (the Fourth Committee).
On the first day of the general debate, multiple delegations underscored the necessity of completing the decolonization process of Western Sahara, as it is the last colony in Africa.
In this regard, South Africa's Ambassador, Mathu Joyini, reaffirmed the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination guaranteed by the United Nations Charter, emphasizing that his country's support for the Sahrawi cause is based on the principles of decolonization, the promotion of human rights, international legality, and the stability and security of the African continent.
Angolan Ambassador Francisco José da Cruz stressed that resolving the Western Sahara issue requires the urgent and unconditional implementation of all relevant United Nations General Assembly and Security Council resolutions, as well as pertinent African Union resolutions in order to reach a lasting, peaceful, and political solution.
Nicaragua's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Jaime Hermida Castillo, reiterated his country's firm commitment to recognizing and defending the right to freedom, self-determination, and national sovereignty of the brotherly people of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
He reminded members of the Fourth Committee of the urgent need for a political solution to the Western Sahara issue and the holding of a United Nations referendum on the decolonization of the last remaining colony in Africa, where its people continue to struggle for an end to colonialism.
In the same context, the representative of Timor-Leste, Joaquim Chaves, also pointed out that Western Sahara is the last colony in Africa and has been identified by this Special Committee as a non-self-governing territory since 1963.
He emphasized that the current situation on the ground underscores the need to increase the United Nations' peacekeeping presence by integrating a human rights component into the MINURSO mandate to monitor human rights situations and address the humanitarian needs of Sahrawis, especially those living in refugee camps.
For her part, Guyana's representative, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, reaffirmed her country's principled support for the resolutions adopted by the Security Council and the General Assembly regarding the Western Sahara issue, urging all parties to respect and defend the provisions of these resolutions.
