Johannesburg (South Africa) 05 October 2024 (SPS)– The African National Congress (ANC) welcomed the recent ruling of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that nullified trade agreements between the European Union (EU) and Morocco, which had included goods from the occupied territory of Western Sahara.
The ruling, which was delivered yesterday morning by the President of the European Court of Justice, has been celebrated by the ANC as a significant victory for the Sahrawi people's struggle for self-determination.
The 2019 EU-Morocco trade agreements, which covered fisheries and agricultural products, extended to goods produced in Western Sahara, a territory illegally occupied by Morocco. The ECJ found that this inclusion violated the rights of the Sahrawi people, as the trade deals were concluded without their consent. It also emphasized that Polisario Front is the legitimate representative of the people of the territory, and therefore it has the legal capacity to sue EU and any other country that violates the Court’s findings.
ANC, in a press release, hailed this decision, emphasizing that it “reaffirms the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination and sovereignty over their land and natural resources.”
The ANC expressed its long-standing commitment to the Sahrawi cause, describing the ruling as a "momentous victory" in the fight against colonialism. The court's decision underscored that goods produced in Western Sahara must now be clearly labeled as originating from Western Sahara alone, without any reference to Morocco.
The ANC highlighted the importance of this clarification, quoting the court: "Labelling must indicate Western Sahara alone as the country of origin of those goods, to the exclusion of any reference to Morocco, so as to avoid misleading consumers.”
In its statement, the ANC also reaffirmed the court’s conclusion that Western Sahara remains an independent territory and that Morocco has no sovereignty over it. This ruling echoes the ANC’s position that Morocco, as a member of the African Union (AU), is bound by AU resolutions and the 1975 International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision, both of which recognize that only the people of Western Sahara can determine their own sovereignty.
The ANC criticized the ongoing occupation of Western Sahara, calling it a "historic injustice" and pointing to Western Sahara as the last remaining colony in Africa.
The party reiterated that Morocco’s claim to the territory is illegitimate and that international legal precedents, including UN resolution 1514 of 1960, confirm the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.
Reaffirming its solidarity with the Sahrawi people, the ANC called for intensified international efforts to resolve the conflict.
"The international community must redouble its efforts in pursuit of independence and self-determination for the Sahrawi people," the statement urged. It emphasized that the global community has a duty to end the "inhumane and prolonged suffering" of the Sahrawi people and help them achieve their long-promised freedom.
The ANC’s stance, first reaffirmed at its 54th National Conference, underscores its belief that Africa cannot be considered fully free while any part of the continent remains under occupation.
The party called for urgent action to end the colonial occupation of Western Sahara and reiterated its commitment to supporting the Sahrawi people until their independence is fully realized.
This ruling by the ECJ is expected to have significant implications for future EU trade agreements involving occupied territories, reinforcing the principles of self-determination and sovereignty in international law. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)
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