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UN expert reminds Morocco of international law on Western Sahara self-determination
🇩🇿 Algeria /Conflict & Security

UN expert reminds Morocco of international law on Western Sahara self-determination

From El Watan · (1h ago) French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A UN human rights expert has strongly reaffirmed the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination via referendum.
  • Ben Saul, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in counter-terrorism, refuted Morocco's claims that UN Security Council Resolution 2797 validates its sovereignty over Western Sahara.
  • Saul emphasized that only a free and fair referendum, consistent with international law, can provide a legitimate resolution to the conflict.

The United Nations, through its Special Rapporteur Ben Saul, has delivered a stark reminder to Morocco regarding the international legal framework governing the Western Sahara conflict. In a detailed analysis, Saul unequivocally reaffirms the Sahrawi people's inalienable right to self-determination, directly challenging Rabat's narrative that recent UN Security Council resolutions legitimize its territorial claims.

Le peuple sahraoui a le droit, en vertu du droit international, de choisir librement son avenir politique et de ne pas être contraint par le Maroc, ou par d’autres pays ou parties, d’accepter un résultat prédéterminé.

— Ben SaulUN Special Rapporteur on human rights in counter-terrorism, explaining the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.

Saul's intervention is particularly significant as it systematically dismantles Morocco's interpretation of Resolution 2797. He clarifies that this resolution does not formally endorse Moroccan sovereignty nor does it impose autonomy as a definitive solution. This legal clarification serves as a crucial counterpoint to Morocco's persistent efforts to gain international acceptance for its control over the territory.

The expert's analysis grounds itself in established international law, referencing the 1975 International Court of Justice ruling and the applicability of decolonization norms to Western Sahara. He stresses that self-determination guarantees a free choice, not a predetermined outcome dictated by any party. The continued recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic by the African Union and the UN's acknowledgment of the Polisario Front as the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people underscore the ongoing international legal standing of the Sahrawi cause.

n’entérine pas formellement la souveraineté marocaine ni n’impose explicitement l’autonomie comme solution définitive

— Ben SaulUN Special Rapporteur on human rights in counter-terrorism, clarifying that UN Security Council Resolution 2797 does not validate Moroccan sovereignty or impose autonomy.

From the perspective of El Watan, this legal reinforcement from a UN expert is a vital affirmation of international law in the face of political maneuvering. While some European powers have recently aligned with Morocco's autonomy plan, Saul's analysis highlights the potential disregard for international legal obligations. The call for a free and equitable referendum remains the only legitimate path forward, a principle that continues to be championed by those advocating for Sahrawi self-determination.

l’autodétermination ne présuppose pas de résultats

— Ben SaulUN Special Rapporteur on human rights in counter-terrorism, explaining that self-determination means a free choice, not a predetermined outcome.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Watan in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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