Morocco leads delegation with Sahrawi officials to UN decolonization committee meeting

The UN Committee on Decolonization (C-24) is holding a new session from May 14 to 16 in Caracas, Venezuela. The Moroccan delegation, led by the kingdom's permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Omar Hilale, includes two Sahrawi elected officials: M'hamed Abba, member of the Council of the Laayoune Sakia El Hamra region, and Ghalla Bahiyya of the Council of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region.

The two Sahrawi officials have participated regularly in the meetings of the C-24 since the May 2018 session in Grenada. Their participation followed their inclusion in the Moroccan negotiating team for the March 6, 2018 meeting in Lisbon with former UN envoy for Western Sahara, Horst Köhler.

This meeting also included the presidents of the Laayoune-Sakia Al-Hamra region, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errechid, and Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, Ynja Khattat. The two Sahrawis then participated in the December 2018 and March 2019 Geneva roundtables.

The Polisario Front does not attend sessions of the C-24. Algeria represents their positions.