Johannesburg (South Africa), August 1, 2026 (SPS) – The Vice President of the Sahrawi National Council, Mr. Abdallah El Merkhi, is participating in the Annual Conference of Speakers of African National and Regional Parliaments, representing the President of the National Council, member of the National Secretariat, Mr. Bashir Mustapha Sayed.
The two-day conference, held on July 31 and August 1, is taking place under the theme: "The Role of Parliamentary Diplomacy in Strengthening Relations with National and Regional Parliaments and Contributing to the Achievement of Agenda 2063." During the opening session, the conference elected its bureau, with Zimbabwe assuming the presidency, The Gambia serving as vice president, and the Sahrawi Republic appointed as rapporteur.
On behalf of the President of the National Council, Mr. Bashir Mustapha Sayed, Vice President Abdallah El Merkhi delivered an address congratulating the newly elected leadership of the Pan-African Parliament, headed by its newly elected President, Dr. Fatshi Betabik.
In his speech, he stressed the importance of upholding international legitimacy in Western Sahara, respecting the Sahrawi people's right to freedom and self-determination, and preserving the borders inherited at independence in accordance with the Constitutive Act of the African Union and the relevant resolutions and legal instruments pertaining to the question of Western Sahara.
Related blogs
