Sahrawi Ambassador Reaffirms Commitment to Self-Determination on SADR50th Anniversary

Sahrawi Ambassador Reaffirms Commitment to Self-Determination on SADR’s 50th Anniversary

✍️ 𝓑𝔂: 𝓓𝓻. 𝓗𝓪𝓷𝓪 𝓢𝓪𝓪𝓭𝓪

The event, organised by the National Institute for Global Strategy Studies (INESG), commemorated the declaration of the Sahrawi Republic on 27 February 1976, a historic milestone that marked the culmination of a legal, political, and liberation process rooted in the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination following the withdrawal of Spanish administration from Western Sahara.

Addressing the historical context of the dispute, Addouh emphasised that Western Sahara has long possessed a distinct identity, predating Spanish colonisation. He highlighted agreements directly concluded between Spain and local Sahrawi communities before the 1885 Berlin Conference, demonstrating unequivocally that the territory did not fall under Moroccan sovereignty.

From a legal perspective, the ambassador recalled that the Western Sahara question has been listed by the United Nations since 1963 among territories awaiting decolonisation. He pointed to multiple resolutions of the UN General Assembly mandating that the Sahrawi people exercise their right to self-determination, as well as the advisory opinion issued on 16 October 1975 by the International Court of Justice, which confirmed the absence of territorial sovereignty ties between Morocco and Western Sahara, reiterating the Sahrawi people’s absolute right to determine their own political future.

Addouh further underlined that the proclamation of the Sahrawi Republic provided the legal and political framework necessary to organise national institutions, reinforce unity, and consolidate the state’s international presence. He highlighted that the SADR is a founding member of the African Union, cementing its recognition and diplomatic standing on the continent.

Despite the ongoing conflict, Addouh asserted that the Sahrawi people remain committed to engaging in any serious and responsible process leading to a just and lasting resolution fully consistent with international law and relevant UN resolutions. “The denial of this right will only perpetuate the conflict,” he warned.

For his part, Abdelaziz Medjahed, director general of INESG, underscored that the Sahrawi cause has achieved significant gains over the past decades across political, military, media, and legal fronts. He stressed that the current stage demands an intensified effort to educate public opinion, expose historical truths, and reaffirm the legitimacy of the Sahrawi cause.

Medjahed added that the resilience demonstrated by the Sahrawi people over more than fifty years reflects the steadfastness of their position and their deep attachment to their rights, expressing confidence that their determination will ultimately lead to the realisation of their objectives.