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DIALOGUE ON THE PLIGHT OF THE SAHARAWI PEOPLE 24 OCTOBER 2012 DIRCO

DIALOGUE ON THE PLIGHT OF THE SAHARAWI PEOPLE 24 OCTOBER 2012 DIRCO. Outline of Presentation. A Brief Summary of SA’s Support for the Western Sahara Struggle. Principles informing SA policy on Western Sahara. SA’s view of the status quo. SA Government’s Proposed Actions.

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DIALOGUE ON THE PLIGHT OF THE SAHARAWI PEOPLE 24 OCTOBER 2012 DIRCO

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  1. DIALOGUE ON THE PLIGHT OF THE SAHARAWI PEOPLE 24 OCTOBER 2012 DIRCO

  2. Outline of Presentation • A Brief Summary of SA’s Support for the Western Sahara Struggle. • Principles informing SA policy on Western Sahara. • SA’s view of the status quo. • SA Government’s Proposed Actions. • SA – SADR Bilateral Relations 22

  3. A Brief Summary of SA’s Support for the Western Sahara Struggle • SA’s support for the liberation of the Western Sahara is historical i.e. informed by SA’s own liberation struggle. • The practical expression of this principle lies in affording people an opportunity to determine for themselves who should lead them and govern on their behalf. The Saharawi people continue to be denied this right. • Political dialogue should remain the preferred option in resolving conflicts. 33

  4. Principles informing SA policy on Western Sahara • South Africa’s support for the self-determination of Western Sahara is based on the following principles: • The principles of multilateralism and international legality in seeking a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. • The centrality of the African Union and United Nations in the resolution of the conflict. • The Constitutive Act of the African Union, in particular the principle of the sanctity of inherited colonial borders in Africa and the right of peoples of former colonial territories to self-determination and independence. • Respect of international human rights law in the occupied territories, notable the right to freedom of association, assembly, movement and expression.

  5. Principles informing SA policy on Western Sahara (cont.) • Respect of international humanitarian law and support for the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Saharawi refugees in a way that is predictable, sustainable and timely. • An end to the illegal exploration and exploitation of the natural resources of Western Sahara in the illegally occupied territory and the discouragement of the involvement of foreign companies in such activities. • Support for the integration and stability of the Arab Maghreb Union as a building block of the African Union. 55

  6. SA’s view of the status quo • Since the signing of the ceasefire agreement between the POLISARIO Front and Morocco a total of four rounds of direct negotiations have been held. • However, neither party is yet to accept the other’s proposal. • Morocco’s proposal to the Western Sahara conflict is an autonomous Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty. • The POLISARIO Front maintains that any process that leads to the convention of a referendum in Western Sahara, with independence as an option, is an acceptable outcome. 66

  7. SA’s view of the status quo (cont.) • SA disputes that the autonomy option, as proposed by Morocco, is the only acceptable outcome. • South Africa reiterates the indisputable fact that Western Sahara remains the last colony on the African continent, listed as a non-self governing territory by the United Nations. South Africa will continue to support efforts to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. 77

  8. SA’s view of the status quo (cont.) • The Security Council should continue to support this process in an unbiased manner and ensure that MINURSO is able to complete its mandate for the 3 critical purposes for which it was intended to operate namely: 1) as an instrument of stability in the event that the political stalemate continues; 2) as a mechanism to implement a referendum on self-determination in the event that the political negotiations are successful; and 3) to provide independent information on conditions in the Territory to the Secretariat, the Security Council, and the international community. 88

  9. South Africa’s views on the status quo (cont) • It is an anomaly that MINURSO is one of the few UN mandates that does not have a human rights mandate and this double standard creates an impression that the Security Council does not give priority to the human rights of the people of Western Sahara. The continuation of this trend has the potential to erode the credibility of this important body. We see no reason, why the people of Western Sahara should be treated any different. • The security situation in the region is precarious because of the instability in the SAHEL and the proliferation of weapons in the region in the aftermath of the ‘Arab Spring’. These security challenges have already had an impact on the situation in Western Sahara and are all the more reason for a resolution to the conflict.

  10. SA Government’s Proposed Actions • South Africa calls for: • The utilisation of every available bilateral and multilateral engagements to place the matter of Western Sahara on the table. • An active role for the AU in the negotiations. • Increased participation by SA civil society in support of the Saharawi struggle . To this end, the SA Friends of Western Sahara Solidarity Movement reinvigorated. 1010

  11. SA Government’s Proposed Actions(cont.) • South Africa calls for: • Assistance of the SADR State with capacity and institution building. • The lifting of a media blackout imposed in the Western Sahara occupied territories that continues to prevent the international community from seeing the daily misery of the Saharawi people; • The demolition of the landmine infested 1800km long sand wall in Western Sahara. This ‘wall of shame’ continues to prohibit interaction between Saharawi families. • Increased allocation of humanitarian assistance to the Saharawi refugees in Tindouf (Western Sahara refugee camps). 1111

  12. South Africa officially recognised the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) on 15 December 2004SADR has a residential embassy in PretoriaSA Ambassador to Algeria also accredited to SADRDIRCO continues to provide capacity building training to SADR government officials through its Diplomatic AcademyPolitical and humanitarian assistance rendered to SADR through the Africa Renaissance Fund (ARF)Support for the Annual Western Saharawi Film Festival (FISAHARA) given through the SA Department of Arts and Culture • South Africa officially recognised the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) on 15 December 2004 • SADR has a residential embassy in Pretoria • SA Ambassador to Algeria also accredited to SADR • DIRCO continues to provide capacity building training to SADR government officials through its Diplomatic Academy • Political and humanitarian assistance rendered to SADR through the Africa Renaissance Fund (ARF) • Support for the Annual Western Saharawi Film Festival (FISAHARA) given through the SA Department of Arts and Culture

  13. SA – SADR Bilateral Relations cont: • There are three MoU’s between the two countries ready for signature: • MoU on Diplomatic Consultations • MoU on Youth Sports Development Complex • MoU on Humanitarian Assistance in Landmine Removal

  14. THANK YOU

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