UN Fourth Committee Reaffirms Support to Political Process in Sahara Dispute

Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN Omar Hilale. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN Omar Hilale. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Fourth Committee Reaffirms Support to Political Process in Sahara Dispute

Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN Omar Hilale. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN Omar Hilale. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly adopted on Wednesday a resolution reaffirming its support for the political process conducted under the exclusive auspices of the UN for the settlement of the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

The resolution calls on all parties to cooperate fully with the UN Secretary-General and his envoy to achieve a political solution to this dispute based on the resolutions that have been adopted by the Security Council since 2007.

It thus supports the political process based on the 19 resolutions of the Security Council since 2007, to achieve a "just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution" to the Moroccan Sahara.

The text praises the efforts made in this direction and calls on all parties to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General, and with each other, to achieve a "mutually acceptable political solution".

This resolution, like its predecessors and those adopted by the Security Council over the past two decades, makes no mention of the referendum, which has been adopted by the UN Secretary-General, the General Assembly, and the UN Security Council.

The UN General Assembly also welcomes in this resolution the commitment of parties to continue to show political will and to work in an atmosphere conducive to dialogue, thus ensuring the implementation of Security Council resolutions since 2007.

Notably, the only new development in the political process since 2006 is the presentation by Morocco on April 11, 2007, of the autonomy initiative.

In this regard, the resolution expresses the support of the General Assembly to the resolutions of the Security Council since 2007.

The text also supports the recommendations of resolutions 2440, 2468, 2494, 2548, and 2602 as well as resolution 2654, adopted in October 2022, which determine the parameters of the solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.

Resolutions 2440, 2468, 2494, 2548, 2602, and 2654 enshrined the roundtable process and defined, once and for all, its four participants, namely Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, and the Polisario.

Indeed, resolutions 2440, 2468, 2494, 2548, 2602, and 2654 mention Algeria, as well as Morocco, on five occasions, thus reaffirming the role of Algeria as the main party in this regional dispute.

These Security Council resolutions also commend the measures and initiatives taken by Morocco for the promotion and protection of human rights in its southern provinces, and the role played by the National Human Rights Council Commissions in Laayoune and Dakhla, as well as Morocco's interaction with the mechanisms of the UN Human Rights Council.

Omar Hilale, Morocco’s permanent representative to the UN, reiterated on Thursday Morocco’s commitment to a political process, conducted exclusively under the auspices of the United Nations, that hinges on Morocco’s autonomy initiative and is within the context of Morocco’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He added that Staffan de Mistura visited Morocco three times and that during his recent visit on 4-8 September, he headed to Laayoune and Dakhla and met with officials there.

Hilale said that nearly 30 countries and regional organizations have established consulates general in the cities of Laayoune and Dakhla, reinforcing their unwavering support for the Saharan region’s integral connection to Morocco.



Sudan's Foreign Ministry Condemns Nairobi Meetings as Army Vows Retaliation

Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army General Yasir Al-Atta (Sudan News Agency)
Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army General Yasir Al-Atta (Sudan News Agency)
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Sudan's Foreign Ministry Condemns Nairobi Meetings as Army Vows Retaliation

Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army General Yasir Al-Atta (Sudan News Agency)
Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army General Yasir Al-Atta (Sudan News Agency)

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry has downplayed meetings held in Nairobi, Kenya, to sign a political charter that would pave the way for the establishment of a government in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan.

This proposed government would act as a parallel authority to the military-backed administration based in Port Sudan, the country’s temporary capital.

The Foreign Ministry dismissed the initiative as a “propaganda stunt” and warned of potential measures to restore order.

The Sudanese army also vowed to confront supporters of the new government and to purge the country of RSF forces.

Speaking at a rally in the northern city of Al-Dabba, Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Army, General Yasir Al-Atta, stated that the military is preparing to “cleanse” the country of RSF forces and retake all areas under their control.

His remarks marked the first direct military response to the Nairobi meetings, which are backed by the RSF and seek to establish a so-called “Government of Peace and Unity.”

This coalition consists of political and civil groups, armed movements, and RSF representatives, positioning itself as an alternative to the military-led government in Port Sudan.

In a strongly worded statement, Al-Atta vowed to fight those attempting to establish the parallel government. “To those who claim to be forming a parallel government, we will fight you in every inch of Sudanese territory. We will show you that the Sudanese nation has lions with sharp claws and fangs,” he said.

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry dismissed the Nairobi meetings as a “mere propaganda event” with no real impact. It also hinted at possible actions to restore order.

In a statement issued late Tuesday, the ministry expressed regret over Kenya’s decision to host the signing of what it called a political agreement between the “terrorist RSF militia” and its allies. It accused Kenya of violating international law, United Nations principles, and the founding charter of the African Union.

Originally scheduled for Tuesday, the signing of the political charter was postponed to Friday following the participation of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement, led by Abdelaziz Adam Al-Hilu. Additional military and civilian factions are expected to join the initiative to establish a government in RSF-controlled areas, running parallel to the administration led by Army Chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan in Port Sudan.

The Foreign Ministry warned that the stated goal of the agreement—to form a government on Sudanese territory—amounts to an attempt to divide the country, undermine its sovereignty, and interfere in its internal affairs. It also accused Kenya of “harboring RSF leaders and allowing them to engage in public political and propaganda activities,” arguing that this effectively encourages continued crimes against civilians, including massacres and genocide.

Furthermore, the ministry accused the Kenyan government of violating principles of good neighborliness and contradicting previous commitments made at the highest levels not to allow hostile activities against Sudan from its territory.

The ministry asserted that the Nairobi meetings would have no real impact, emphasizing the Sudanese army’s determination to reclaim all land from what it described as the “terrorist militia and its foreign mercenaries.”

It also called on the international community to condemn Kenya’s actions, warning that Sudan would take the necessary steps to correct the situation.

Kenya Faces Domestic Criticism

Kenya has also faced internal criticism for hosting an event organized by the RSF to announce a parallel government, with some accusing it of irresponsibility and “covering up” criminal activities.

Two sources involved in organizing the event told Agence France Presse that RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), who has remained largely out of sight throughout the war, has arrived in Kenya and is expected to attend the official announcement on Friday.

Kenya has historically hosted several regional peace agreements, including the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for Sudan 20 years ago, which ended a previous civil war. However, a lawyer working with the International Refugee Organization, a human rights group, stated that Kenya’s latest move “undermines” the positive image it seeks to project.