South Africa’s attempt to be a “stakeholder” in Sahara Conflict described as “strange” & “inappropriate”
The latest attempt by South Africa to gain international prominence by trying to transform itself into a “stakeholder” in the Sahara conflict was described as strange and untimely.
This came in comments by the International Committee for Dialogue and Peace on South Africa’s invitation to the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura.
The Committee deemed the invitation as impertinent, inappropriate, and destabilizing, and noted that South Africa’s aspiration to deal with the Sahara issue violates the principle of impartiality of States, given that Pretoria is known for its unconditional support for the separatist claims of the Polisario Front and its self-proclaimed “Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic” (SADR).
The Committee also slammed the statements made by the South African Foreign Minister as worrying, particularly when she claims that Staffan de Mistura has entrusted her with “certain suggestions relating to the Sahara problem” and that these suggestions are “confidential” and “must be seriously examined by her government.”
The International Committee for Dialogue and Peace deems it necessary to stress that it is a fundamental rule of all nations to fully and impeccably respect the course of controversies, disputes, or disputes that are handled within the framework of the United Nations, as is the case with the Western Sahara dispute in the UN’s Fourth Special Committee.
It is therefore necessary to respect the process for settling conflicts and disputes, dealt with within the framework of the United Nations, as is the case for the Western Sahara conflict.
The Committee made it clear that the United Nations has clearly defined the stakeholders directly involved in the conflict resolution process: Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and Spain. Neither the African Union nor South Africa are actors in this conflict. Neither are they part of the observer countries nor of the group made up of the United States and the other member countries of the Security Council + Spain, which have the prerogative of drafting resolutions on the renewal of MINURSO’s mandates.
Mistura will never succeed in relaunching the political process relating to the Sahara conflict by involving third states which are not party to the conflict and which have no interest other than shamelessly supporting the theses of Algeria and the Polisario, the Committee argued, adding that this kind of action constitutes diplomatic immaturity and a lack of initiative to put an end to the status quo.
The Committee which described Staffan De Mistura’s attitude as inappropriate expressed deep concern and rejection of South Africa’s unilateral involvement in the Sahara issue and urged Staffan de Mistura to review his position on this incident as a matter of urgency.
