SADC to pledge support for Saharawi

THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) will on Monday and Tuesday convene a Solidarity Conference with the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic in Pretoria.

The 38th Ordinary Summit approved the convening of a conference, during which heads of state and government will express the region’s support for decolonisation and selfdetermination for Western Sahara, on the basis of the values and principles that have guided the quest for independence throughout Africa.

SADC’S collaboration on and with Western Sahara has been informed by the region’s own decolonisation experiences and the quest for liberation and self-determination.

The conference is expected to conclude with the adoption of a SADC regional strategy and a declaration which will among others, establish mechanisms to engage relevant stakeholders and partners including Morocco, to observe the spirit of the AU decisions and UN resolutions in order to expedite the resolution of the Western Sahara matter.

It will affirm the support to the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic’s right to self-determination and independence based on the principle of self-determination and decolonisation, through the holding of a referendum.

The conference will also see to it that the sanctity of inherited colonial borders in Africa is adhered to and that there is respect of international human rights law in occupied territories, notably the right to freedom of association, assembly, movement and expression and respect of international humanitarian law. |