Sahrawi Republic President Mohamed Abdelaziz Discusses Self-Determination for Africa’s Last Colony
 Ambassador Moulud Said and President Mohamed Abdelaziz. |
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Sahrawi Republic President Mohamed Abdelaziz discussed “The Latest Developments on Western Sahara” and the struggle of the Sahrawi people to return to their homeland. At the time of DFF’s forum, the President had just been to New York to meet with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and was soon to be meeting with former Secretary of State James Baker, formerly the personal envoy for the UN on Western Sahara.
Comparing the Western Sahara to East Timor, Abdelaziz explained that both countries had been invaded by their neighbor at the point in which they were to be de-colonized. Fortunately, East Timor was able to finally gain its freedom and independence but because of a lack of pressure on Morocco, despite the clear cut legality of the issue, Western Sahara has never had the opportunity to vote on self-determination. Abdelaziz also cited the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq. The international community assumed its duties and responsibilities and forced Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait, and by doing so, the Kuwaiti people were able to recover their sovereignty and independence.
He said he came to the U.S. to advance the peace process in the Western Sahara, a process that has to culminate with self determination for the people in the Western Sahara which will ultimately benefit peace and progress in the region. Abdelaziz said that Baker’s peace plan proposed last July was accepted by the Security Council. Despite the fact that the Sahrawis had many objections to Baker’s plan, the Sahrawis agreed to accept it. “It was also accepted by the neighboring countries, the observer countries, Algeria and Mauritania, but Morocco, once more stopped the implementation of this plan,” he explained, “rejecting the plan in the same manner that they have done in the past with previous settlement plans that were approved by the United Nations. It was not implemented because Morocco stopped its implementation.” This was typical of Morocco, and Abdelaziz cited Baker’s previous meeting between the two parties to negotiate an agreement, the Houston Accords, but when it came to the implementation of these accords, the Moroccans changed their position and rejected the agreement.
“So this has been the classic position of Morocco when it comes to the search for peace,” Abdelaziz explained. “We believe that the Moroccans want to prevent, by all means, the Sahrawis from exercising their right to self-determination.”
Back in 1991, under an earlier United Nations settlement plan, the Sahrawis were told there would be a referendum in eight months. Now, it has been almost 15 years and still no referendum has been held. The Sahrawis are becoming increasingly disappointed and frustrated with the United Nations.
Abdelaziz stated that the United Nations seems only to go as far as Morocco wants which has affected the credibility of the United Nations. During this same time that Morocco has blocked progress on Western Sahara, there have been very important developments in the region. In Algeria, the situation has dramatically changed, from a time when terrorism was at its worst to a time where Algeria is in the midst of a democratic electoral campaign. In addition, to the Algerian elections, elections were also held in Mauritania. Furthermore, another key development was the new position by Libya to put an end to their involvement with nuclear weapons.
However, on Western Sahara nothing has changed. The Moroccans persist in their occupation and denigration of the Sahrawi people of Western Sahara. By doing so they are preventing the development of regional integration, and particularly integration of the Maghreb.
He pointed out that in addition to exporting war as it has done against the Sahrawi people, Morocco has also been involved in exporting terrorism citing the recent attacks in Madrid that were perpetrated by Moroccans. It has also been involved in drug trafficking and is becoming a source of instability, whereas the other nations in the region are moving forward.
Abdelaziz said that he would never ask the United States to jeopardize its good relations with Morocco. He simply wants the United States to defend free and fair elections in which the people can choose freely their destiny.