Western Sahara: Sahrawi Foreign Minister Accuses Morocco of State Terrorism, Rejects Exclusivity of Autonomy Proposal
BY Dr. Hana Saada
In an exclusive interview with Mohamed Yeslem Beissat, conducted by journalist Mohamed Abdoun for La Patrie News, the Sahrawi foreign minister set out the position of the Polisario Front on recent developments in Western Sahara, including the use of drones, the UN political process, the status of political prisoners and the role of international actors.
Sahrawi Foreign Minister Mohamed Yeslem Beissat has accused Morocco of pursuing a policy of “state terrorism” in Western Sahara, asserting that Moroccan drone strikes have killed nearly 170 people, including Sahrawi civilians and nationals from Algeria, Mauritania, Sudan and Chad.
In an exclusive interview with La Patrie News, Beissat said the Polisario Front considers the use of armed drones by Morocco to constitute extrajudicial executions punishable under international law.
“The Polisario has documented nearly 170 deaths caused by Moroccan killer drones,” he said, adding that the strikes targeted both civilians and military personnel in areas under Sahrawi control.
According to Beissat, these operations reflect “the resounding failure of the Moroccan occupation in the face of the Sahrawi people’s resistance” and have been facilitated by military technologies supplied by the United States, Israel and Turkey.
The interview followed the death of senior Polisario official Lahbib Abdelaziz in a drone strike attributed by the Sahrawi side to Morocco.
Beissat drew parallels between the use of drones in Western Sahara and Zionist military operations in Palestine, arguing that such actions would not deter the Sahrawi independence movement.
“The Sahrawi people exist, regardless of the position of the Moroccan occupier. Our liberation struggle is a tangible reality, clearly demonstrated on the ground,” he said.
Addressing UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted in October 2024, Beissat rejected Moroccan interpretations that present Rabat’s autonomy initiative as the sole basis for a settlement.
He argued that the resolution explicitly reiterates the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and leaves open the possibility of other options, including an independence referendum.
“Contrary to Morocco’s assertions, the resolution does not grant exclusivity to its autonomy plan,” he said.
Beissat further maintained that the resolution’s reference to a “mutually acceptable political solution” gives the Sahrawi people and their representatives the right to reject any proposal they consider incompatible with their interests.
He described Resolution 2797 as marking “a new phase” that, in his view, prevents Morocco from imposing a policy of fait accompli.
Looking ahead to the next Security Council session, Beissat said he expected the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy to present an update on the activities of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and recent developments on the ground, including the killing of the Polisario official.
He expressed confidence that the issue would remain within the framework of the UN decolonisation agenda and insisted that no settlement could be imposed outside international law.
“The Western Sahara issue is a decolonisation question,” he said, arguing that existing international legal texts, UN resolutions and judicial decisions support the Sahrawi position.
Beissat also accused the United States and France of bearing political responsibility for obstacles to the resolution of the conflict, arguing that their support for Morocco has hindered the implementation of international law.
“Washington and Paris assume political responsibility for the impediments to resolving the Sahrawi conflict,” he said.
Despite rejecting the exclusivity of Morocco’s autonomy proposal, Beissat said the Polisario Front remains prepared to consider it as one option among others, provided it forms part of a self-determination process that includes independence.
“We are ready to accept the Moroccan autonomy plan, but only as one option among others, including self-determination,” he said.
The Sahrawi minister also criticised Morocco’s treatment of Sahrawi political prisoners, describing detention conditions as “inhuman and criminal”.
He cited the case of activist Naâma Asfari and the Gdeim Izik group, arguing that the continued imprisonment of Sahrawi detainees demonstrates Morocco’s unwillingness to pursue a peaceful settlement.
According to Beissat, no lasting solution to the conflict can be achieved without respect for international law and recognition of the Sahrawi people’s right to determine their own future.
He concluded by thanking La Patrie News and journalist Mohamed Abdoun for their continued coverage of the Western Sahara issue.
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