Africa-Press – Botswana. Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) member states remain steadfast in their commitment to the decolonisation and self-determination of the people of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)/ Western Saraha.
Speaking during the singing of a Memorandum of Understanding between SADC and SADR, Executive Secretary of SADC, Mr Elias Magosi said the MoU aimed to materialise the decisions adopted by Heads of State and Government of SADC in August 2019 with respect to Western Sahara and the declaration on the SADC solidarity conference with Western Sahara held in March 2019.
He said the SADC summit of heads of state of 2019 in collaboration with counterparts and civil society made a declaration calling for the unconditional implementation of all United Nations and African Union resolutions on Western Sahara. The intention of the conference, he said was to achieve a positive, peaceful and permanent solution that meets the aspirations and the will of the people of Western Sahara to self-govern. He said it was unfortunate that Western Sahara remained the only territory in Africa still under colonial rule.
“As part of that conference declaration, SADC secretariat developed the MoU, which has gone through all SADC structures with the main structure being the SADC ministerial committee of the organ that oversees peace and security,” he said.
He said it was notable that the SADC region was home to one of the last African countries that gained their independence late in the 1990s with the recent been Namibia.
“As a collective, our struggle for freedom and democracy was fearless as the region fought in solidarity, thus it is this experience that we underpin our empathy and solidarity with the Western Sahara,” he said.
Similarly, Ambassador for Western Sahara accredited to Botswana and Permanent Representative to SADC, Mr Bah El Mad Abdellah said the signing of the MoU was a significant step toward fostering cooperation solidarity and mutual development. He said the agreement symbolised shared commitment to enhance and promote the right and aspirations of the Sarahawi society.
He also said Saharawi people were seeking for substantial support from the SADC block to advocate for the right to self-determination and independence from Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara.
With the history of anti-colonisation struggle, Mr Abdellah said he remained hopeful that SADC would apply the much-needed pressure on international bodies for the people of Western Sahara to recognise their political aspirations and their quest for sovereignty.
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