New York (United Nations), 15 October 2026 (SPS) – The Kingdom of Lesotho has reaffirmed the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination in accordance with relevant United Nations General Assembly resolutions and the principles of international law, expressing concern over the continued lack of a settlement to the Western Sahara question despite decades of UN efforts.
Addressing the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee, which deals with Special Political and Decolonisation matters, Lesotho stressed that Western Sahara remains an unresolved, longstanding decolonisation issue despite the United Nations’ sustained efforts to achieve a settlement.
Lesotho emphasised the need for continued dialogue, restraint and good-faith engagement by all parties, describing these principles as essential to addressing the situation and advancing towards a peaceful future for the people of Western Sahara.
It also underscored that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms must remain an integral part of efforts to resolve the conflict, ensuring that political initiatives uphold the fundamental rights of the Sahrawi people.
Lesotho’s statement came during the Fourth Committee’s deliberations on Non-Self-Governing Territories. Western Sahara remains on the UN decolonisation agenda, pending the exercise by the Sahrawi people of their right to self-determination.
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