Algeria involves Polisario in UN debate on Africa's role

At the initiative of the Sierra Leonean presidency, the UN Security Council hosted a debate last night in New York titled «Righting the historic wrong and strengthening Africa's effective representation on the United Nations Security Council».

Algeria, a non-permanent Security Council member, used the opportunity to advocate for the Polisario Front, according to Algerian state media. In his speech, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lounès Magramane, decried the «suffering of the people of the occupied territory of Western Sahara for over 50 years».

This follows similar actions by Algerian officials at previous UN Security Council meetings. In April, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf called for an end to the «occupation of Western Sahara» during a debate on Mediterranean youth.

In June, Algeria's Permanent Representative to the UN, Amar Benjamaa, raised the issue at a meeting on hate speech and extremism, «demanding self-determination for Palestinians and Western Saharans».

Ahead of crucial UN Security Council and General Assembly deadlines, Algeria and the Polisario held a meeting in Algiers on August 11 to coordinate their strategy.