International Human Rights Council: 40 Countries Renew Support for Moroccan Sovereignty over the Sahara
Approximately forty countries reaffirmed their support for Morocco’s full sovereignty over its Sahara today, Tuesday, during the 57th session of the Human Rights Council, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
This group of countries expressed their support for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom in a statement delivered on their behalf by the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Ektor Virgilio Alcántara, during the general discussion on the annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the human rights situation globally.
In this context, the group highlighted Morocco’s “constructive, voluntary, and profound” engagement with the United Nations human rights system.
Virgilio Alcántara stated in the declaration under Item 2 of the session’s agenda, “For many years, Morocco has engaged in a constructive, voluntary, and profound interaction with the United Nations human rights system, particularly the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to promote and respect human rights throughout its territory.”
He noted that the UN Security Council has commended, in its resolutions on the Sahara conflict, the role played by the regional human rights commissions in Dakhla and Laayoune, and the interaction between Morocco and the mechanisms related to the special procedures of the Human Rights Council.
The group also welcomed in their statement the opening of many countries’ consulates in the cities of Dakhla and Laayoune, which serve as “leverage to enhance economic cooperation and investment, benefiting the local populations and regional and continental development.”
They added, “The Sahara issue is a political dispute addressed by the Security Council, which acknowledged the preeminence of the autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco as a serious and credible option for a lasting political solution to the regional dispute over the Sahara.”
In this regard, the group affirmed their support for efforts to relaunch the UN-led political process exclusively based on the format established in the two roundtables in Geneva, in accordance with the Security Council resolutions, particularly the latest resolution 2703, issued on October 30, 2023, aiming to reach a political, realistic, practical, and enduring solution to this regional conflict based on consensus.
The Dominican Ambassador concluded, “The resolution of this regional conflict will contribute to realizing the legitimate aspirations of African and Arab people for integration and development, a goal that Morocco continues to earnestly and persistently pursue.”
