New York (United Nations), 5 February 2025 (SPS) Dr Sidi Mohamed Omar, Member of the National Secretariat, Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations and Coordinator with MINURSO, stressed that Morocco, the occupying state, continues to obstruct the referendum because it is absolutely certain that if the Sahrawi people are allowed to vote in a free and democratic referendum under UN supervision, they will undoubtedly choose to assert their national independence.
The statement was made during a recent interview by the Sahrawi diplomat with the Algerian Channel “Ennahar” in which the latest developments concerning the question of Western Sahara at the United Nations and other related issues were addressed.
In response to a question about the status of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), the Sahrawi diplomat recalled that the mission was established by the Security Council in April 1991 with a clear mandate, namely the holding of a free and fair referendum for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
However, MINURSO has not yet been able to complete the implementation of its mandate because of the clear obstructive attitude taken by Morocco, the occupying state, along with the inaction of the Security Council and its failure to respond resolutely to the Moroccan obstructionism, which is mainly due to the negative role played by France in defending the position of Morocco, the occupying state.
In this context, the Sahrawi diplomat stressed that without the unconditional support provided by France to Morocco, the occupying state, the latter would not have been able to continue to obstruct MINURSO’s mandate with complete impunity, and that if it were not for France, the Mission would have been able to deal with the human rights situation in the Occupied Sahrawi Territories and work in accordance with the standards applicable to UN peace operations.
Concerning a question about the Security Council and its use of double standards in dealing with colonial powers such as Morocco, the occupying state, the representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations and Coordinator with MINURSO underlined that the Security Council is virtually paralysed and that this situation affects its ability to carry out its primary responsibility entrusted to it by the UN Charter, namely the maintenance of international peace and security.
In that regard, he highlighted in particular the negative role that France, contrary to its international obligations, has been playing in supporting Morocco, the occupying state, in its illegal occupation of parts of the Sahrawi Republic. In his view, this case shows an aspect of the deep crisis faced by the Security Council, which is due to the defiant attitude of some of its members, especially permanent members, and their outright disregard for the spirit and letter of the UN Charter.
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