More than 118 UN member countries, including three permanent members of the Security Council, now support the Moroccan initiative
Rabat – Senegal has once again confirmed its strong support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a solution to the Western Sahara dispute.
The statement came during a speech by Senegal’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Diamane Diome, at the UN’s C24 (Special Committee on Decolonization) session, taking place in New York between June 9 and 20.
Diome said that his country “wishes to reaffirm its steadfast support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative, which the Security Council has described as serious and credible in its successive resolutions since 2007.”
He noted that more than 118 UN member countries, including three permanent members of the Security Council, now support this initiative. France, the United States, and, most recently, the United Kingdom, have expressed their support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative.
The ambassador also pointed to Morocco’s progress in promoting human rights in the region, especially through the work of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) offices in Dakhla and Laayoune.
In addition, the diplomat spoke about Morocco’s major investments in its southern provinces, which are part of the new development model aimed at boosting sustainable growth, protecting the environment, and promoting local culture. These projects are helping improve living standards and human development indicators in the region.
Senegal also commended Morocco for fully respecting the ceasefire agreement and for cooperating with the UN peacekeeping mission MINURSO. Ambassador Diome called on other parties to also respect the ceasefire, as outlined in Security Council Resolution 2756.
He further urged more cooperation with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme to better protect the rights of people living in the Tindouf camps, including their freedom of expression, access to aid, and the need for proper registration in line with international humanitarian law.
The Senegalese diplomat welcomed the efforts of the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Sahara to restart the political process. He encouraged all involved parties to return to roundtable talks to reach a realistic and lasting political solution.
Diome concluded by reaffirming Senegal’s full support for Morocco’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and recalled that Senegal opened a consulate general in the southern city of Dakhla on April 5, 2021
BY: The Times Union
