Algeria's Firm Stance on Direct Negotiations
Algeria has publicly reaffirmed its support for a direct negotiation process between Morocco and the Polisario Front to address the ongoing conflict in Western Sahara. The Algerian government emphasizes that any resolution must ensure the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination. This position was articulated by Algerian Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf during Africa Day celebrations on May 25. Attaf explained that the current diplomatic framework, facilitated by the United Nations and the United States, supports a long-standing view held by Algeria—that a viable solution necessitates direct negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front, which is recognized by the United Nations as the representative of the Sahrawi people.
Call for a Just and Lasting Solution
During his address, Attaf insisted that any agreement reached must culminate in a "fair, enduring, and definitive" solution grounded in international law and aligned with UN resolutions regarding Western Sahara. Algeria reiterated its commitment to the principles of self-determination for peoples, respect for sovereignty, and prioritization of political and diplomatic solutions. These statements come amid a period of heightened diplomatic activity surrounding the conflict. The United States is exerting increasing pressure in an effort to foster some form of regional agreement, even while it continues to officially endorse Morocco's sovereignty over the territory and the so-called Moroccan autonomy plan, which has been rejected by the Polisario Front and lacks UN endorsement.
The recent regional tour by U.S. Undersecretary of State Christopher Landau, which included visits to Algeria and Morocco, has highlighted the strategic significance of Western Sahara within the broader geopolitical tensions in North Africa. However, few specific details have emerged regarding the discussions that took place in recent weeks in Madrid and Washington. More than thirty years after the ceasefire in 1991, the promised referendum on self-determination by the United Nations has yet to occur. As Morocco seeks to diplomatically solidify its occupation of the territory, the Polisario Front continues to advocate for the Sahrawi people's right to freely determine their future in accordance with international law.
As reported by noteolvidesdelsaharaoccidental.org.
