UN must sanction Morocco, while AU must suspend her

The Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic in North Africa is not only Africa’s last colony, but also its worst shame. For over four decades ( 40 years) the Polisario Front – that chivalrous liberation movement constituted on the 10th of May 1973 - has waged a resistance against the expansionist adventure of imperialistic Kingdom of Morocco.

Although still partially occupied by Morocco and heaving under a yoke of oppression, Western Sahara and its upright Saharawis, has continued their spirited fight for their self- determination – an inalienable right enshrined in all international treaties of the United Nations and the African Union.

The sad part about Western Sahara’s predicament is that it is occupied by a fellow member of the African Union. Certainly this fact alone, calls to question the bankruptcy of the African Union leadership.

We must ask how Morocco was admitted into the hallowed halls of this liberation organisation when its colonial designs were apparent to all and sundry. Flaunting her economic and military strength Morocco has subjugated Western Sahara under colonial persecution, dispersing Saharawis into exile in Algeria, where they live in Refugee Camps and worst of all, building a 2, 700km wall in Western Sahara to separate the Saharawis.

All these outrageous and contemptuous acts have been performed in the open glare of the United Nations and the African Union both of which are tasked with ending the conflict under the aegis of the 1991 UNconstituted Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara ( MINURSO).

It is an indictment on the basic concept of international morality and rule of law that a country can defy a multilateral order replete with its institutions to terrorise another for this long. We note the UN General Assembly resolutions 34/ 37 of 21 November 1979 and 35/ 19 of 11 November 1980, which deplored the aggravation of the situation resulting from “the continued occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco”.

Further UN General Assembly resolution 2625 ( XXV), stipulates that “no territorial acquisition resulting from the threat or use of force shall be recognised as legal”, this means that the United Nations categorically has never recognised the legality of Morocco’s annexation of parts of Western Sahara.

“Morocco is not an administering Power over Western Sahara’s territory under Article 73 of the UN Charter. Morocco also does not have sovereignty over Western Sahara; therefore Western Sahara question remains a pending issue of decolonisation and should therefore be resolved in accordance with UN General Assembly resolution 1514 ( XV).”

This latter resolution requires the holding of a free and fair Referendum under the aegis of MINURSCO which vote Morocco has since 1991 has frustrated through delaying tactics.

There have also been UN Security Council Resolutions including decisions of the African Union and its Regional Economic Communities expressing solidarity with Western Sahara, but we maintain it is just not enough. Sahawaris live under occupation, they have to contend with land mines; watch helplessly as foreign cartels loot and plunder their resources all the while waiting for a referendum that seems like an abyss. We call on the international community to impose sanctions on Morocco and for the AU to suspend Morocco’s membership of the pan African organisation until it complies with all the Resolutions and decisions of the UN and the AU.