Latest news with #Bendjama
Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
UN Decolonization talks : Rabat mobilizes allies, Algiers pushes for referendum
As in previous years, the United Nations General Assembly's Special Committee on Decolonization (C-24) once again became the scene of a heated exchange between Morocco and Algeria over the Western Sahara conflict, last Tuesday. In her address, Morocco's representative Majda Moutchou emphasized that the «positive international momentum» favors a «realistic, lasting, and consensual political solution». She pointed out that more than 118 countries, including three permanent members of the Security Council, support Morocco's autonomy plan, first proposed in 2007. Moutchou criticized the committee's limited framing of the issue strictly through the lens of decolonization, arguing that this «does not reflect historical reality or current developments on the ground». She also stressed that the intransigence of a single state «should not obstruct» the political process led by the UN Secretary-General, urging the committee to take into account evolving international legal standards. For its part, Algeria called on the United Nations to take firm action to eradicate what it considers the «last bastions of colonialism». While the UN has acknowledged since the early 2000s the impossibility of organizing a referendum of self-determination due to fundamental disagreements between Morocco and the Polisario Front over voter eligibility, Algeria's representative Amar Bendjama renewed his call for such a referendum. Bendjama criticized the continued failure of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to organize the vote since its creation nearly four decades ago. He urged the committee to «use all available means to complete the decolonization process». Bendjama also attempted to portray Algeria as a neutral party, stating that «the only path» to resolving the conflict lies in resuming direct, serious negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front. The session also featured interventions from elected officials representing Saharan provinces and civil society activists. Ghalla Bahiya, Vice President of the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region, stated that «the autonomy plan presented by Morocco to the United Nations in 2007 offers a practical, balanced, and dignified solution», granting a high degree of autonomy to the Moroccan Sahara. Mohamed Abba, representing the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra regional council, highlighted major infrastructure projects in the region and emphasized investment in human development, noting that over 36.5 million dirhams had been allocated to education, health, and youth engagement. The situation in the Tindouf camps also drew attention. Touria Hamain, of the Association for the Freedom of Women Detained in the Tindouf Camps, denounced forced marriages, gender-based violence, and restrictions on freedom of movement and expression. She condemned what she described as the «complicity of the host state», calling on the international community to demand an independent investigation into systematic human rights violations in Algeria. Zine El Abidine El Ouali, representing the African Forum for Research and Studies on Human Rights, condemned the diversion and sale of humanitarian aid, as well as child recruitment in the camps. Activist Saad Benani declared that «the Polisario Front is not a voice for peace, but an armed separatist group that resorts to terrorism, repression, and ideological manipulation». On the other side, the Polisario's representative, Sidi Mohamed Omar, attempted to downplay the significance of Morocco's autonomy plan, dismissing it as «a farce and a maneuver by the occupying state to legitimize its illegal occupation of Western Sahara». Ahmed Mohamed Fall, representing the organization CODESA, echoed this sentiment, claiming that members of his group «face repression, retaliation, siege, and isolation». He called for urgent international intervention «to activate humanitarian law» and urged the establishment of a UN protection mechanism. Broad Support for the Autonomy Plan Several delegations, including those from Saint Lucia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Togo, the Comoros, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, expressed their support for Morocco's autonomy initiative, describing it as a «realistic and viable solution» to ensure peace and stability in the region. Other delegations urged the concerned parties, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario Front, to remain engaged in the political process. The representative of Antigua and Barbuda noted that recent backing of the autonomy plan by a UN Security Council member further legitimizes it as a «practical path to a solution». The Dominican Republic's representative encouraged all parties to seize the growing momentum around the initiative to reach a lasting and mutually acceptable agreement. Equatorial Guinea's representative called the Moroccan initiative «a constructive path to resolve this regional conflict» and praised Morocco's efforts in social and economic development in the Sahara, particularly in sustainable development, environmental protection, and the promotion of local culture. In the same vein, Guinea-Bissau's representative said his country's decision to open consulates in Laâyoune and Dakhla was a result of Morocco's commitment to the well-being of the Saharan population. He also voiced concern over the conditions faced by refugees in the Tindouf camps and condemned human rights violations there, particularly those affecting women and children. Kuwait's representative, speaking on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), welcomed UN efforts to resolve the conflict, including those of the Secretary-General and his personal envoy, Staffan de Mistura. He stressed the importance of respecting Morocco's sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for the creation of conditions conducive to renewed dialogue. The Polisario Front: Familiar Allies Weigh In As in past sessions, Venezuela stressed the urgent need to maintain a «political horizon» and to «struggle against colonialism, and expressed solidarity with the people of Western Sahara». Nicaragua described the issue of the Sahara as part of the «global battle against colonialism». Zimbabwe and Namibia reaffirmed their solidarity with the «Sahrawi people» in their «struggle for freedom, independence, and self-determination». South Africa's representative, echoing Algeria's stance, claimed that MINURSO had failed to fulfill its primary mandate of organizing a referendum and called for urgent UN measures to uphold this «long-promised right». The representative of Timor-Leste noted that economic interests «have complicated the political process and contributed to the perpetuation of the status quo». Finally, Belize expressed hope to see «the Sahrawi people, secure in their homeland, with a future that they determine themselves».
El Chorouk
25-03-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
MINURSO: A UN Exception in Disregarding Human Rights
Algeria denounced on Monday the failure to provide the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) with a human rights mandate, unlike similar missions. Algeria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Amar Bendjama, emphasized in New York, 'We have been lectured many times by some partners on the importance of monitoring and reporting on respect for human rights and the need to respect international law, including international humanitarian law. What is strange, however, regarding MINURSO, is that we were astonished by their silence or even their opposition.' In his remarks at a UN Security Council meeting devoted to improving the adaptability of UN peacekeeping operations to new realities, Bendjama drew the audience's attention to this shortcoming, which specifically affects MINURSO. This behavior, the Algerian diplomat added, sends a signal that 'MINURSO, as the exception among all UN peacekeeping operations deployed in Africa, is simply turning a blind eye to human rights violations.' Bendjama stressed that 'providing all UN peace operations, without exception, with a strong human rights component is essential to improving the work of UN missions in the field by monitoring and reporting violations.' In general, Bendjama indicated that Algeria considers 'the discussion on the future of UN peace operations and their adaptability to be an important issue for the Council and the international community, especially in a context where UN peace operations face significant challenges.' He explained; 'As we prepare for the ministerial conference on peacekeeping scheduled to be held in Berlin next May, we emphasize the importance of seizing all possible opportunities to develop a unified vision for the future of peacekeeping, particularly in terms of adaptability.' However, Algeria believes that UN peace operations 'have shown their limits and require significant adjustments to effectively address new challenges,' the Algerian diplomat added. In this regard, Algeria proposes, in addition to the human rights aspect, that the mandate granted to peacekeeping operations focus 'on the core issues, taking into account the mission's purpose and defining its ultimate objective as soon as possible.' Bendjama continued, saying: 'We are witnessing what can be described as 'Christmas tree mandates,' under which UN missions are given an overwhelming number of responsibilities, hindering their ability to carry out their intended missions.' Nevertheless, he stressed that 'partnerships are essential to improve the adaptability of UN peacekeeping operations,' adding, 'We insist on strengthening cooperation between the UN and regional organizations, especially the African Union, which is a reliable partner in this regard.' He also asserted that 'adaptability requires promoting political solutions and integrating the peace-building dimension into the mandate of UN peacekeeping operations.' 'It is essential that UN peacekeeping operations uphold the priority of dialogue, respect for international law, and the right of peoples under foreign occupation to self-determination, within the framework of political efforts on the ground.' Finally, Bendjama affirmed 'Algeria's commitment to supporting the work of UN peacekeeping operations by making its expertise in maintaining international peace and security available to the United Nations and the international community.'
