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Algeria’s representative rebuts Morocco at U.N., urges referendum for Western Sahara
Summary
At the U.N. General Assembly, Algeria’s representative used a right of reply to reject allegations from a Moroccan delegate, accused Morocco of blocking the U.N. MINURSO process, and called for a U.N.-organized referendum to guarantee the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.
The representative of Algeria took the floor at the United Nations General Assembly to exercise a right of reply after remarks by a Moroccan delegate, accusing Morocco of attempting to impose a "colonial fait accompli" in Western Sahara and urging a U.N.-organized referendum to resolve the dispute.
The Algerian representative quoted a ministerial statement and said Algeria "aspires to put an end to the colonization once and for all by turning the final page of this chapter as we unfortunately see in the Western Sahara." The representative told the Assembly that Algeria and other supporters "count on our full support" for the U.N. Secretary-General and his special envoy to resume negotiations aimed at a political solution that would guarantee the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.
The speaker accused the Moroccan side of blocking the work of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, known as MINURSO, saying, "that work is currently being blocked by the occupying power, which is Morocco," and criticized Morocco’s autonomy proposal as "rather, shady." The representative challenged Morocco to submit its autonomy plan to a referendum of the Sahrawi people, asking rhetorically why the proposal would not be put to a vote if it were genuinely acceptable to the Sahrawi population.
Addressing the tone of bilateral references during the debate, the representative questioned why the Moroccan delegate had singled out Algeria, noting that Morocco had mentioned Algeria frequently during its earlier remarks. Algeria framed the dispute as a matter of decolonization and international law rather than a purely bilateral quarrel.
The representative reiterated that a political process must involve negotiations between the legitimate representatives of the Sahrawi people and Morocco, and said Algeria would welcome any political agreement that respects the right to self-determination. The speaker reminded the Assembly that the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination is "solidly anchored in international law and resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council."
The statement concluded with Algeria’s pledge of continued support for the Sahrawi people so they can "fully access their inalienable right to self-determination," and the representative thanked the president before yielding the floor.
