Paris (France), May 16, 2025 (SPS) – A major intellectual symposium titled "Colonialism in Western Sahara and France’s Position" was held yesterday, Thursday, at the prestigious Sorbonne University in the French capital, Paris.
The event, hosted by this world-renowned academic institution, drew a large audience of students and professors and was streamed live across multiple social media platforms.
The symposium featured contributions from Professor and researcher Michel Crosille and Mr. Mohamed Ali Zerouali, the Polisario Front’s representative in France, who delivered a lecture outlining the historical, political, and militant dimensions of the Sahrawi cause.
In his address, the Sahrawi diplomat criticized the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, for its failure to enforce the UN peace plan, which led to the resumption of war after Morocco’s violation of the ceasefire.
He emphasized the legal battle waged by the Sahrawi Republic in European courts to defend its sovereignty and the rights of its people, especially regarding the plundering of natural resources.
The diplomat also addressed France’s position, which he described as biased and unjust toward the Sahrawi people, holding Paris politically and morally responsible for over half a century of Sahrawi suffering.
He pointed to the consistent support of successive French governments for Morocco—politically and militarily—including their opposition to expanding the UN mission’s mandate to include human rights monitoring.
He also condemned France’s double standards, which contradict the principles of liberty, justice, and equality that the French Republic claims to uphold.
In conclusion, the Sahrawi diplomat stressed that the Western Sahara issue remains a decolonization matter, which can only be resolved through the implementation of self-determination. He warned of the dangers of ignoring the plight of a peaceful people who only resorted to war in self-defense and to reclaim their homeland.
He called for increased academic and media efforts to raise awareness about the Sahrawi cause and break the media blackout surrounding it.
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