Rédaction Africa Links 24 with munadil
Published on 2024-03-08 09:45:06
Bir Lehlu, 5 March 2024 – President of the Sahrawi Republic and Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, has raised concerns about the potential transfer of Western Sahara’s airspace to Morocco in a letter addressed to UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.
In his letter, Ghali points to reports in the Spanish media regarding an offer made by the Spanish Prime Minister during a recent visit to Rabat. The Sahrawi leader emphasizes that such a move would violate the international status of the territory, which is recognized by the United Nations as pending decolonization, as well as Spain’s obligations as the administering power of Western Sahara.
Ghali warns that handing over control of Saharawi airspace to Morocco could further disrupt efforts to revive the UN peace process in the region, especially in light of Morocco’s breach of the 1991 ceasefire in November 2020.
To address these concerns, Ghali highlights the historical management of Western Sahara’s airspace by Spanish air traffic controllers in the Canary Islands, in accordance with Spain’s responsibility as the administering power, as outlined in UN resolutions and decisions.
The Sahrawi leader also references legal opinions supporting Spain’s role as the administering power, including the 1975 Madrid Agreement, which, according to the UN Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, did not transfer sovereignty over the territory. Furthermore, Ghali mentions judgments from the African Court of Human and Peoples’ Rights and the European Court of Justice affirming the Saharawi people’s right to self-determination and acknowledging the distinct status of Western Sahara.
In conclusion, President Ghali reiterates the POLISARIO Front’s appeal to the United Nations to uphold the status of Western Sahara as a territory awaiting decolonization. He emphasizes the continued presence of MINURSO, the UN mission for the referendum in the region, and calls on Spain to fulfill its international, legal, and moral obligations towards Western Sahara until the completion of the decolonization process for the territory.
Read the original article on porunsaharalibre.org
