Polisario relies on AU Commissioner's support to counter the opening of consulates in the Sahara

On January 21st, the African Union Summit kicked off in Addis Ababa with the conference of the Permanent Representatives’ Committee, which brought together leaders under the theme «Silencing Guns: Creating conductive conditions for Africa’s development».

The Polisario intends to seize this meeting to gather support for condemning the opening of embassies and consulates in Dakhla and Laayoune.

The first chapter of this campaign took place on Sunday, during a meeting presided by the African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui.

«I received H.E. Amb. Lamine Baali Yahiaoui of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic. We discussed the recent letter of President Ibrahim Ghali related to the respect of international legality in Western Sahara», the Algerian official wrote on his Twitter account.

Earlier this month, the Polisario Front criticized in a press release the opening of embassies and consulates in the Sahara by several African countries. The separatist movement claimed that these actions «violate international laws» and those of the «African Union».

Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune shares the same position. Algiers condemned the opening of diplomatic representations in Dakhla and Laayoune through its Foreign Affairs Ministry.