Menu

Wide Angle

Polisario condemns France's backing of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara

Two days after Algeria condemned France's decision to recognize Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara, the Polisario Front broke its silence. The group stated that the French government's decision «constitutes a dangerous escalation» and excludes France from all international efforts to resolve the conflict.

DR
Estimated read time: 2'

After Algeria, the Polisario Front has broken its silence, condemning France's support for the autonomy proposal for the Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty. The Polisario described the French decision as «hostile towards the Sahrawi people» and «a dangerous escalation that will have serious consequences for peace, security, and stability in the entire region».

«This position, contrary to the principles of international law and France's international obligations as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, reveals France's involvement in the ongoing aggression against the Sahrawi people», stated the Polisario Front.

The Polisario further claimed that «France's adoption of this hostile and escalatory position completely excludes it from international efforts related to the decolonization of Western Sahara, placing it in the role of the occupier and making it an undesirable party for the Sahrawi people, including in its participation in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)».

Separatist leader Hamma Salama stated that the French government's decision «constitutes a dangerous deviation that contradicts international legitimacy and France's role as a permanent member of the UN Security Council». He added, «this French deviation undermines the efforts of the UN and the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, threatening international peace and security», as reported by the official Algerian News Agency (APS).

Prior to the Polisario Front's statement, Algeria had already expressed its «great regret» and «strong condemnation» of the French government's recognition of «the autonomy plan for the Western Sahara region within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty».

The Algerian Foreign Ministry stated that it «holds the French government solely and fully responsible for the consequences of this decision».

«The Algerian government has noted with great regret and strong disapproval the unexpected, unfortunate, and futile decision taken by the French government», the statement continued.

There has been no official announcement by the French government regarding the recognition of the Moroccan Sahara, nor any announcement from Morocco.

Be the first one to comment on our articles...