Khatri Addouh, Sahrawi Ambassador to Algeria, delivered a speech at the Mufdi Zakaria Palace of Culture in Algiers on Sunday to mark the anniversary of Sahrawi National Unity. During the event, he addressed the ongoing political status of Western Sahara and the role of international bodies.
"The Sahrawi people will continue to hold onto their rights, and I call on the United Nations and the Security Council to assume their responsibilities in respecting international legitimacy and working to find a just and lasting solution to the Sahrawi issue," Khatri Addouh stated. The address focused on the Sahrawi position regarding self-determination and the legal framework governing the region. Attendees gathered at the cultural facility to commemorate the national milestone while hearing the ambassador’s formal assessment of current diplomatic efforts.
Historical Context of Struggle
The Polisario Front has functioned as the official representative of the Sahrawi people since 1974. This organization maintains its role in advocating for the region’s political status and self-determination.
A United Nations fact-finding mission traveled to Western Sahara in 1975 to observe the conditions on the ground. The mission operated during a period of shifting regional control and diplomatic scrutiny. Shortly thereafter, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion regarding the territory on 16 October 1975. This legal assessment addressed the historical ties and legal status of Western Sahara. These developments established the formal framework for the subsequent decades of diplomatic engagement and international focus on the region. The activities of the United Nations and the findings of the International Court of Justice remain central to the ongoing discourse surrounding the Sahrawi people and their status.
International Support and Presence
Diplomatic representatives from several nations attended the commemoration at the Mufdi Zakaria Palace of Culture in Algiers. Ambassadors from Mauritania, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Tanzania were present to observe the proceedings alongside Khatri Addouh. Their attendance provided a view into the current level of international engagement regarding the Sahrawi cause.
Humanitarian concerns also featured during the assessment of the situation in Western Sahara. Reports indicate that there are approximately 600 missing persons since 1975. This figure represents individuals unaccounted for throughout the decades of the conflict. The documentation of these missing persons remains a subject of concern for those involved in the diplomatic and humanitarian efforts related to the region.