Sahara Western: Latin American and Caribbean Countries Call for Decolonisation
In a recent session of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation (C-24), several Latin American and Caribbean countries have urged for the acceleration of the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and an end to the occupation of the last colony in Africa. According to a report by SPS News, the countries emphasised the need for the international community to support the Sahrawi people’s struggle for independence.
The Venezuelan representative reaffirmed his country’s support for the decolonisation of Western Sahara, reiterating Venezuela’s unwavering stance on the Sahrawi issue and its solidarity with the Sahrawi people in their just struggle to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter. As reported by SPS News, the representative expressed regret that the Sahrawi people have not yet exercised their right to self-determination, citing the total non-compliance with the mandate of the UN Mission for the Organisation of a Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for over thirty years.
The Nicaraguan representative also addressed the committee, lamenting the endurance of the Sahrawi people nearly half a century of exile, occupation, and denial of their inalienable right to self-determination. According to SPS News, she reaffirmed her country’s historical and unwavering commitment to defending the inalienable rights to freedom, self-determination, and national sovereignty of the Sahrawi people. The representative highlighted that the Western Sahara issue is not an isolated case, but part of the global struggle against colonialism, which many people continue to fight.
The Bolivian representative emphasised that the situation in Western Sahara remains one of the most crucial outstanding issues on the Special Committee’s agenda. As quoted by SPS News, she stressed that international law, including the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, clearly establishes Western Sahara as a non-autonomous territory under occupation, underscoring that complete decolonisation is "inevitable". The representative also stated that a free, fair, and binding referendum is undoubtedly the legitimate means for the Sahrawi people to determine their future.
The Cuban representative recalled the numerous resolutions of the UN General Assembly, the Security Council, and the African Union affirming the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. According to SPS News, she urged the international community to adhere to the UN resolutions on Western Sahara and rejected unilateral decisions that disregard the Sahrawi people’s rights, particularly the so-called "autonomy proposal", which violates international law, the UN Charter, and UN General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) and 2625 (XXV).
The Belizean representative also addressed the committee, highlighting that numerous UN resolutions and the International Court of Justice have recognised the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination as "an imperative norm of international law". As reported by SPS News, she deplored that decolonisation remains incomplete, depriving the Sahrawi people of their rights, which "renders the international community complicit in this injustice".
The calls for decolonisation and self-determination for the Sahrawi people come as the international community continues to grapple with the complexities of colonialism and its legacy. As SPS News reports, the Sahrawi people’s struggle for independence remains a pressing issue, with many countries urging for a peaceful and lasting resolution to the conflict. The situation in Western Sahara remains a critical issue on the UN’s agenda, with many experts calling for a renewed commitment to decolonisation and self-determination.
In conclusion, the recent session of the UN Special Committee on Decolonisation highlighted the urgent need for the international community to support the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and an end to the occupation of Western Sahara. As SPS News reports, several Latin American and Caribbean countries have urged for a peaceful and lasting resolution to the conflict, emphasising the need for the international community to adhere to UN resolutions and support the Sahrawi people’s struggle for independence.
