Liberia reaffirmed, in New York, its “unwavering support” for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for the Sahara, describing it as the “most serious and credible compromise solution” for resolving the Sahara conflict.
Intervening at the annual meeting of the United Nations (UN) Committee of 24 (C-24), Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Sarah Safyn Fyneah, stressed that the Moroccan Autonomy Plan is in line with international law, the United Nations (UN) Charter, and the resolutions of the Security Council (SC) and General Assembly (GA).
Highlighting the growing international support for the Autonomy Plan, Fyneah affirmed that the territorial integrity of each country must be respected and fully defended at all times.
In this context, the Liberian diplomat praised the efforts of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to relaunch the political process under the exclusive auspices of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, with his visits to the region and the informal bilateral consultations he held with the relevant parties in New York in March.
Liberia’s representative also underlined that her country encourages Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the “polisario” to remain committed to the political process to reach a realistic, pragmatic, and lasting solution to the conflict over the Sahara, as mandated by the Security Council (SC).
In this regard, the Liberian official called for the resumption of the process of the round table in the same format and with the same participants, namely Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the “polisario,” under Security Council (SC) resolution 2654 of October 2022.
The Liberian representative recalled the 2021 elections, which recorded a high turnout of 66.94% in Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra, 63.76% in Guelmim-Oued Noun, and 58.30% in Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, as confirmed by national and international observers, praising the participation of elected representatives from the Moroccan Sahara in the C-24 Pacific regional seminar for the fifth consecutive time and in the two round tables held in Geneva in 2018 and 2019.
In a similar context, Fyneah praised the socio-economic development dynamic in the southern provinces, reflected in grand projects such as the Dakhla Atlantic Port and the Regional Investment Center of Laayoune Sakia El Hamra Region, commending the inauguration of 28 consulates general and regional organizations in Laayoune and Dakhla, which reflects “a major support for the autonomy plan.”
Liberia’s representative also stated that her country “commends Morocco’s achievements in the field of human rights,” recognized by the resolutions of the United Nations (UN) Security Council (SC), in particular resolution 2654, which commends the role of the regional commissions of the National Council for Human Rights (CNDH) in Laayoune and Dakhla, and cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Fyneah also praised Morocco’s constant respect for the ceasefire in the Moroccan Sahara, calling unequivocally on all other parties to respect the comprehensive ceasefire agreement since the security and stability of the entire region are at stake.
In a similar context, the Liberian diplomat strongly condemned any obstruction of the missions of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) and its activities to supply its sites.
The representative of Liberia also reiterated his country’s “strong condemnation of the violations of the fundamental rights” of the people sequestered in the Tindouf camps by the “polisario,” in particular women and children, expressing her country’s “deep concern” at their difficult situation.
In this context, Liberia’s representative stressed the imperative of carrying out peoples’ registration per international humanitarian law, the recommendations of the Secretary-General, and all Security Council (SC) resolutions since 2011, including resolution 2654.
Liberia also condemns “polisaro” abuses against the peaceful populations of the camps and the misappropriation of humanitarian aid intended for them, as detailed in the reports by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the European Union Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), published in 2015.