UN honors Moroccan diplomat Halima Ouarzazi at International Day of Women in Diplomacy
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights paid tribute Tuesday in Geneva to Moroccan diplomat Halima Ouarzazi, a pioneer of African female diplomacy, who passed away on May 14 after a distinguished career in international service.
«Women, in all their diversity, have been working in diplomacy for generations. Halima Ouarzazi from Morocco and Belela Herrera from Uruguay, both recently deceased, are two cherished examples among many», said Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner, at the opening of an event marking the International Day of Women in Diplomacy during the 59th Human Rights Council (HRC) session.
Ouarzazi represented Morocco with distinction, serving as Chair of the UN Third Committee, an expert with the UN Committee against Apartheid and Racial Discrimination, and a member of both the Council and Executive Committee of the International Institute of Human Rights. She also sat on the UN Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities.
Her legacy was also honored through a photography exhibition titled Women Leaders in Multilateralism and Diplomacy, held at the Palais des Nations from June 24 to July 4.
This year marks the first observance of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, focused on removing barriers to women's leadership in peace and diplomacy. The event follows HRC Resolution 58/15, led by Morocco during the Council's 58th session.
Backed by a cross-regional group including Chile, the Maldives, Mexico, Slovenia, Spain, and Mauritius, the resolution reflects a core priority of Moroccan foreign policy: advancing gender equality and promoting women's leadership in diplomacy and multilateral spaces.
The group also called for stronger recognition of women's contributions in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and decision-making, including within the Human Rights Council itself.
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US Congressman Joe Wilson Officially Introduces Bill to Designate Polisario as Terrorist Group
Marrakech – Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, alongside Democratic Representative Jimmy Panetta, has submitted a bipartisan bill to the US Congress seeking to classify the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist group. The congressman formally submitted the legislation titled 'Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act' to the House of Representatives on June 24. It now sits before both the Foreign Affairs and Justice Committees for thorough examination. Wilson revealed the initiative through his X account, labeling the Polisario as 'a Marxist militia backed by Iran, Hezbollah and Russia providing Iran a strategic outpost in Africa and destabilizing the Kingdom of Morocco, a US ally for 248 years.' The congressman, who fulfilled a promise he had repeated many times, expressed gratification at introducing this cross-party legislation with Rep. Jimmy Panetta to brand the Polisario as a foreign terrorist organization. The comprehensive bill directly implicates the separatist movement in extensive arms and drug trafficking networks throughout the Sahel region, deliberate violations of established ceasefire agreements with Morocco, and calculated attacks targeting Moroccan civilians in Saharan border territories. The legislation meticulously documents connections between the Polisario and various extremist organizations operating in the region, bolstered by support from Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia – relationships that pose direct threats to regional and international stability. The Polisario is a Marxist militia backed by Iran, Hezbollah and Russia providing Iran a strategic outpost in Africa and destabilizing the Kingdom of Morocco, a U.S. ally for 248 years. Grateful to introduce bipartisan legislation with @RepJimmyPanetta to designate the Polisario… — Joe Wilson (@RepJoeWilson) June 26, 2025 Should this bill receive approval, it would trigger a fundamental shift in American foreign policy regarding North Africa, as Washington considers Morocco's position vital for international security frameworks. The legislation would expose the Polisario Front to stringent sanctions, severe economic restrictions, and complete diplomatic isolation, effectively categorizing it alongside notorious terrorist groups such as Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, ISIS, and FARC. US under Trump's leadership propels push for final resolution of the Sahara dispute This decisive congressional action follows only two months after Washington's firm reaffirmation of support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Western Sahara. During an April 8 meeting in Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita that the United States unequivocally recognizes Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces and backs the autonomy proposal 'as the only basis for a just and lasting solution to the dispute.' The statement dealt a heavy blow to the Cold War relic narrative and its chief sponsor, Algeria, which had mocked Trump's initial recognition as 'just a tweet,' only to watch it solidify even further under the second Trump administration, leaving no doubt about Washington's unwavering commitment. The State Department subsequently reinforced this position in an official diplomatic communiqué, stating: 'The United States would contribute to any progress toward achieving this goal.' Observers described the declaration as a pivotal moment that closed the door on any illusions of a reversal. With Trump back in power, Washington's endorsement has shifted from symbolic recognition to an institutional pillar of US foreign policy, and is now pushing decisively to resolve the decades-long fabricated Western Sahara dispute. A Spanish think tank report published by Instituto Coordenadas de Gobernanza y Economía Aplicada on June 11 noted that this firm American stance, coupled with pressure on Algeria to dismantle the Tindouf camps, marks the beginning of the end for the separatist narrative. This momentum could draw a definitive close to one of Africa's most unnecessarily prolonged and politically manufactured territorial falsehoods, long sustained by external agendas rather than historical legitimacy. A resolute ally who honored his word Wilson has consistently criticized external support for the Polisario Front. During a public session of Congress in January, he directly accused several nations of enabling the separatist group: 'War criminal Putin, Iran, and Cuba are actively destabilizing West Africa by supporting the Polisario Front, a threat to the Kingdom of Morocco,' Wilson declared, while powerfully reaffirming Morocco's role as a steadfast and indispensable American ally. In the same address, he reminded colleagues that 'President Donald Trump stood with Morocco, recognizing Western Sahara as Moroccan,' and noted his role as chair of the US-Morocco Caucus. He also denounced, at the time, Algeria's provocative hosting of 'terrorist-designated Kurdish separatists to meet with Polisario militia in Tindouf,' specifically referencing the 'notorious PKK and YPG' visit to the camps. Wilson had repeatedly telegraphed his intentions regarding this legislation and consistently vowed to hold those enabling the separatists accountable. Following his April 9 meeting with Bourita, Wilson wrote , 'Grateful to meet with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita to discuss our long-standing partnership and commitment to peace in the region, including the stability of Western Sahara from Polisario terrorists. The U.S. stands with Morocco for peace.' Just two days later, he confirmed on X: 'I will introduce legislation to designate the Polisario as terrorists. Iran & Putin are gaining a foothold in Africa via Polisario. Connect the dots: axis of aggression.' The congressman has maintained unwavering determination, vowing on May 22: 'The legislation is coming soon,' while adding the pointed assurance that 'Trump will fix it.' Proof that eradicates all ambiguity surrounding the Polisario's true nature Multiple prestigious American think tanks have assembled overwhelming evidence supporting the terrorist designation. The Hudson Institute's comprehensive analysis has shattered the Polisario's self-portrayal as a liberation movement, instead revealing it as 'a destabilizing militia' steeped in arms smuggling and youth indoctrination, while 'aligning itself with the strategic agendas of Iran, Russia, and China.' The report, authored by Zineb Riboua, meticulously documents how the Polisario's activities 'go far beyond the standard for a terror designation.' According to the Hudson Institute's analysis, the Polisario Front conclusively meets all three statutory criteria for designation as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under US law. Most alarmingly, the institute confirms the separatist group 'receives drones from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) through transfers facilitated by the Algerian regime' and 'smuggles arms to jihadist insurgencies that threaten American forces across the Sahel.' The report specifically highlights the case of Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, who reportedly held a role in the Polisario before becoming the emir of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). Under his leadership, ISGS carried out numerous attacks across the Sahel, including a 2017 ambush in Niger that killed four US soldiers. This trajectory 'underscores how militant ecosystems in the region overlap and evolve' and demonstrates that 'the Polisario's political infrastructure in Tindouf has long facilitated radicalization, trafficking, and terrorist mobilization.' In a landmark May 21 analysis for The Daily Signal titled 'Why the US Must Confront Terror Proxy Polisario Front,' Robert Greenway, director of the Allison Center for National Security, and Amine Ghoulidi, visiting fellow at the Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, presented devastating evidence of the group's terrorist activities. 'Today, Polisario fighters field Iranian-type drones, share desert corridors with Russian proxies' supply convoys, and tax smuggling routes that feed Sahel jihadists. All this takes place within missile range of the Strait of Gibraltar, one of the world's most critical maritime choke points,' they write. The experts remind Washington of a troubling precedent: 'In 1988, Polisario missiles brought down two U.S. Agency for International Development aircraft, killing five Americans—and the U.S. failed to respond with sanctions.' The analysts warn that since the 2020 unilateral withdrawal from the UN-brokered ceasefire, Polisario has declared the Western Sahara a 'zone of war,' resumed rocket attacks along Morocco's defensive berm, and explicitly warned that 'foreign consulates, airlines, and companies were 'legitimate targets.'' Their analysis identifies the three pillars supporting Polisario's operations: 'Iranian military assistance, a growing Russian influence network, and a mature trans-Sahel illicit economy that overlaps with jihadist financing streams.' The authors note that Algeria's sanctuary allows Polisario to 'stockpile ordnance, experiment with new systems, and cultivate external sponsors at minimal risk,' while maintaining a force of roughly 8,000 fighters with potential to mobilize up to 40,000 – 'a manpower pool that Polisario commanders can draw on and which jihadist recruiters have already probed.' The National Interest published a comprehensive analysis on June 9, stressing that more countries are adopting Morocco's security approach to safeguard its southern provinces and prevent the region from becoming home to a 'jihadist government.' 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The report cited direct testimony from these security forces and Western diplomats stationed in the region, providing incontrovertible confirmation of long-standing Moroccan assertions regarding the dangerous nexus between Iran, Hezbollah, and the Polisario, facilitated through Algerian channels. The proposed legislation would impose crippling consequences on the Polisario terror group, including complete asset freezes, absolute prohibition of financial or political interactions with its supporters, and implementation of targeted sanctions. This designation would also significantly complicate diplomatic relations with Algeria, the primary state sponsor and sanctuary provider for the violent separatist movement. Mounting evidence and a surging global consensus are isolating the Polisario. With the UK joining the US, France, and Spain in recognizing Moroccan sovereignty, over 120 nations now back the Autonomy Plan as the only credible path to end the conflict. Read also: Is this the end of the Polisario?
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The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights paid tribute Tuesday in Geneva to Moroccan diplomat Halima Ouarzazi, a pioneer of African female diplomacy, who passed away on May 14 after a distinguished career in international service. «Women, in all their diversity, have been working in diplomacy for generations. Halima Ouarzazi from Morocco and Belela Herrera from Uruguay, both recently deceased, are two cherished examples among many», said Nada Al-Nashif, Deputy High Commissioner, at the opening of an event marking the International Day of Women in Diplomacy during the 59th Human Rights Council (HRC) session. Ouarzazi represented Morocco with distinction, serving as Chair of the UN Third Committee, an expert with the UN Committee against Apartheid and Racial Discrimination, and a member of both the Council and Executive Committee of the International Institute of Human Rights. She also sat on the UN Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and the Protection of Minorities. Her legacy was also honored through a photography exhibition titled Women Leaders in Multilateralism and Diplomacy, held at the Palais des Nations from June 24 to July 4. This year marks the first observance of the International Day of Women in Diplomacy, focused on removing barriers to women's leadership in peace and diplomacy. The event follows HRC Resolution 58/15, led by Morocco during the Council's 58th session. Backed by a cross-regional group including Chile, the Maldives, Mexico, Slovenia, Spain, and Mauritius, the resolution reflects a core priority of Moroccan foreign policy: advancing gender equality and promoting women's leadership in diplomacy and multilateral spaces. The group also called for stronger recognition of women's contributions in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, humanitarian response, and decision-making, including within the Human Rights Council itself.
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