4 days ago
Sahara: For Dominica, Morocco's Autonomy Plan ‘The Compromise Solution'
Doha – The Commonwealth of Dominica forcefully reasserted its 'full support' for Morocco's Autonomy Plan at the UN Committee of 24 (C24) regional seminar recently held in Dili, Timor-Leste, declaring it 'the solution of compromise' to the Western Sahara regional dispute.
Dominica's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Philbert Aaron, proclaimed that the autonomy initiative aligns perfectly with international law, the UN Charter, and the resolutions of both the Security Council and General Assembly.
'The development of the Sahara has been manifested by the improvement of infrastructure and healthcare, education and housing,' Ambassador Aaron declared, commending Morocco's extensive development efforts that have transformed living conditions and created substantial opportunities for local populations.
The diplomat renewed his country's call for continued engagement by Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the separatist Polisario group in the roundtable process, conforming to Security Council resolution 2703.
He also spotlighted the UN Secretary-General's crucial role in advancing settlement efforts and recognized Staffan de Mistura's contribution in revitalizing the political process as the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for the Sahara.
During the same C24 seminar, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire amplified their support for Morocco's autonomy initiative. Senegal's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Diamane Diome, revealed that 117 countries—over 60% of UN member states, including two permanent Security Council members—back this initiative.
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He also trumpeted Morocco's human rights achievements in its southern provinces, which earned recognition in Security Council resolution 2756.
Côte d'Ivoire's representative unequivocally reaffirmed his country's 'full support' for Morocco's proposal, underscoring how it empowers Sahara inhabitants to actively participate in the region's political and socio-economic management through democratic elections.
Both African countries applauded Morocco's steadfast adherence to the ceasefire and military agreements while urging other parties to avoid actions undermining the political process.
This is not the first time Dominica endorses Morocco's position. Earlier in April 2024, Dominica's Foreign Affairs Minister Vince Henderson restated his country's support for the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the 'only credible, serious, and realistic solution' to the dispute over Western Sahara during talks with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita in Rabat.
In June 2024, Ambassador Aaron told the UN Committee of C24 that 'Dominica fully supports the autonomy plan presented by the Kingdom of Morocco to end the Sahara conflict and views it as the foundation for a realistic and pragmatic solution towards stability and peace in the region.'
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), of which Dominica has been a member since 1981, opened a consulate in Dakhla, Western Sahara on March 31, 2022, joining African and Arab countries that have established diplomatic missions there in a sign of support for Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces. Tags: Autonomy Plan for the SaharaThe Commonwealth of Dominica
