Algeria regrets 'biased' UN text on Western Sahara

accreditation
0:00
play article
Subscribers can listen to this article
File image (Photo by Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
File image (Photo by Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Algeria on Sunday expressed "profound regret" at what it called an unbalanced UN Security Council resolution calling on all sides to resume talks toward a solution in disputed Western Sahara.

Algiers backs the Polisario Front, which seeks independence in Western Sahara, and in August broke off relations with Morocco over various accusations of hostile acts, which Rabat rejected.

Morocco controls nearly 80 percent of the arid and sparsely populated territory which was under Spain's jurisdiction until 1975.

The United Nations resolution called for "the parties" to resume negotiations "without preconditions and in good faith" in search of a "just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution".

It also renewed for another year the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara, established in 1991.

READ | Arab League, OIC call for Algeria-Morocco dialogue amid spat

"Algeria will not support this biased resolution which has the effect of comforting the exorbitant claims of the occupying state (Morocco)," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

The Security Council resolution was spearheaded by the United States, which under former president Donald Trump broke with the world to recognise Morocco's claim to the territory as part of a quid pro quo for Rabat's normalisation of ties with Israel.

The resolution does not recognise Moroccan sovereignty and calls for a goal of "self-determination of the people of Western Sahara", a phrase that diplomats said was added by Washington at the behest of Russia, which could have vetoed the text.

Algeria expressed its "profound regret toward the fundamentally unbalanced approach consecrated by this text which is cruelly lacking responsibility and lucidity due to the unfortunate forcing by certain influential members of the Council," the ministry added.

READ | Spanish judge begins questioning Polisario leader

Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on Friday welcomed the text, saying it "specifies the real parties to the conflict by calling for Algeria to take part responsibly and constructively".

The last UN-led peace talks in 2019 involved top officials from Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the Polisario.

They were frozen after UN envoy Horst Kohler quit the post in May 2019. He was finally replaced this month by veteran diplomat Staffan de Mistura.

On Friday Algeria rejected the "roundtable format" of talks.

The Polisario continues to demand a UN-supervised self-determination referendum, which was agreed in a 1991 ceasefire accord but has still never taken place.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For only R75 per month, you have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today.
Subscribe to News24
Lockdown For
DAYS
HRS
MINS
Voting Booth
What issue will be top of mind for you when voting tomorrow?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Service delivery
24% - 141 votes
Rooting out corruption
66% - 385 votes
Reducing crime
8% - 45 votes
Vaccine mandates
2% - 14 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
15.25
-0.7%
Rand - Pound
20.88
-0.0%
Rand - Euro
17.63
-0.0%
Rand - Aus dollar
11.47
-0.0%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.0%
Gold
1,783.42
0.0%
Silver
23.90
0.0%
Palladium
2,005.85
0.0%
Platinum
1,023.00
0.0%
Brent Crude
83.72
+0.1%
Top 40
60,808
-0.5%
All Share
67,465
-0.4%
Resource 10
62,990
-0.8%
Industrial 25
87,490
-0.4%
Financial 15
13,956
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE