EU reiterates non-recognition of Polisario’s self-proclaimed separatist entity

The EU reiterated that it does not recognize the self-proclaimed SADR republic and reaffirmed its steady position in support of UN efforts towards a mutually acceptable solution to the regional dispute over the Sahara, in yet another blow to Algeria and its separatist puppets.

The position was expressed by the spokesman of the European Commission Peter Stano who made it clear that no EU member state has recognized the phony republic set up in Algerian territory.

The remark came in at a press conference as the EU and the African Union prepare to open  this week their summit in Brussels to which the Polisario was invited.

“A key point to explain here is that the EU is a co-organizer of this summit with the African Union… it is the African Union that made the invitation,” to the Polisario, Stano said.

The presence of the Polisario does not make whatsoever change to the EU’s position in the conflict, he said.

The Algerian regime and its media apparatus has often mocked itself by claiming that the participation of the Polisario in international events under the umbrella of the African Union was similar to international recognition.

The African Union is so far the only regional grouping that has admitted an armed separatist militia as a full-fledged member. But sands are now shifting from under the Polisario and Algeria’s feet as voices are rising in favor of ejecting the separatist entity.

The admission of the self-proclaimed SADR entity by the Polisario with Algeria’s sponsorship took place at a “particular context” when the predecessor of the AU was torn between ideological trends that are now anachronistic.

Morocco left the organization of the African Unity in reaction to the admission of the Polisario in 1984. Since then, Algeria used the comfort of not having Morocco’s voice to pass resolutions serving the separatist cause going as far as using the most important body in the African organization, the Peace and Security Council, to serve Algiers hegemonic agenda under the cover of supporting Polisario’s separatism.

However, since its triumphal return to the African Union, Rabat managed step by step to correct past bias of the organization and make its voice heard to the disappointment of Algeria and the few remaining countries rallying behind its agenda to unsettle Morocco through the Polisario militias.

So far, some 22 countries, mostly African opened consulates in Laayoune or Dakhla in a show of total support for Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory.

Morocco’s presence within the continental organization served as a bulwark against separatist plots and together with its numerous friends managed to push the African Union to recognize that the Sahara peace process is an exclusive domaine of the UN, barring thus the road for Algiers as it seeks to pressure the African Union into a mediation role.

The African Union cannot simply mediate on the Sahara issue because by having the Polisario as a member, it has prejudged the outcome of the peace talk process which stresses the preeminence of the Moroccan autonomy initiative.

The withdrawal of the Polisario requires a resolution with two-thirds of votes. Now that vote seems at hand for Morocco which has fostered ties with countries from all corners with Africa.

The membership of the Polisario within the African Union stands as an aberration that prejudged the outcome of negotiations in total disregard for the UN process and for Morocco’s historical rights as a country that was divided by two colonial powers.