Dublin (Ireland), April 15, 2026 (SPS) – Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Defence, Helen McEntee, has reaffirmed her country’s commitment to international legitimacy in the decolonization of Western Sahara.
She stressed that Ireland’s position on the Sahrawi issue has always supported—and will continue to support—a just and lasting political solution that guarantees the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
This came in response to a written question from MP Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire of the Sinn Féin party, who called on his government to exert international pressure to ensure the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
McEntee stressed that Ireland’s commitment to this issue will continue, based on the role of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura. She emphasized that any solution must respect the principles and objectives set out in the UN Charter, including the fundamental right of peoples to self-determination.
On this basis, Ireland will continue to support UN-led efforts to reach a solution to this long-standing conflict. Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, along with Ireland’s diplomatic missions, will maintain contact with the parties involved in the conflict. Developments related to the issue will also be closely monitored, including within the framework of discussions at the European Union and the United Nations, the Irish minister added.
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