UN: Moroccan diplomat deflates Algeria’s claims about its observer status in Sahara Issue

Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN Omar Hilale has deflated with sound and accurate arguments Algeria’s claims that it only has an observer status in the Sahara issue, stressing that the genesis of the conflict and the ensuing facts confirm that without Algeria’s aggressive activism, interference, and support to separatist theses, there will be no Polisario, no Sahara issue, and the UN will not be debating the matter.

 

Omar Hilale presented his arguments in his right of reply before the UN Committee of 24, in New York, Monday, following the intervention of the Algerian Chargé d’Affaires.

 

The Algerian diplomat aggressively aimed at the 15 countries that have all cited Algeria’s responsibility as one of the four stakeholders in the regional dispute as evidence by its participation in the two Geneva roundtable meetings, held in December 2018 and March 2019, insisting that his country “is not a party but just an observer”.

 

The Moroccan ambassador asked the Chargé d’Affaires to explain how a mere observer country arms, finances, shelters and provides diplomatic support to an armed non-state separatist movement, the Polisario, how it gave up its authority over Tindouf to the separatists, and why it harasses the diplomats positioned in New York if they do no side with Algeria’s stands.

Omar Hilale also wondered why a mere observer would nurture hatred towards neighboring Morocco and advocate separatism in school books and end-of-year examinations.

 

Among other practices evidencing that Algeria is a stakeholder in the Sahara issue, the Moroccan diplomat talked about its refusal to allow a registration and census of the Tindouf camps populations despite the repeated calls of the international community, the Security Council and other UN bodies.

 

He also brought up how Algeria covers the diversion of humanitarian aid sent to the populations of the Tindouf camps, as confirmed by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and other NGOs, and how it impose taxes on humanitarian assistance destined to the populations held against their will in the Tindouf camps.

 

In conclusion, Omar Hilale pointed out that the international community is no longer deceived by the whims propagated by Algeria, as evidenced by the growing number of countries which withdraw their recognition of the pseudo-SADR, as did on Saturday El Salvador, whose President, Nayibe Bukele, described the entity as a “virtual republic”.