The European Union commented on the controversial participation of the Polisario Front separatist group in the upcoming Afro-European summit in Luanda on the 24th and 25th of this month, stressing that “the responsibility for issuing invitations lies with the African Union, and that the EU’s position on the entity known as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) is firm and has not changed.”
A spokesperson for the European Union's foreign affairs office explained during a press conference that the summit is being organized jointly by the European Union and the African Union, and that each party sends invitations to its members according to agreed procedures, adding that"any participation of the Polisario Front at the level of ministers or heads of state and government does not affect the European Union's legal and political position towards this entity."
The same spokesperson pointed out that the European Union does not recognize this entity, and that any exploitation of these calls or international forums by the Polisario does not change the official position of the Union, explaining that “this participation does not give the entity any new international legitimacy and does not affect the policies of the European Union towards Morocco and the Sahara.”
The same source confirmed the European Union’s commitment to the firm legal and diplomatic position regarding the conflict in the Sahara, while respecting the joint procedures between the European and African Unions, and not allowing any party to exploit continental events to change the positions of European institutions or their member states.
In this regard, Abdelwahab Elkain, president of the “AfricaWatch” organization, said that Algeria has been hoping for a decade to make a political and diplomatic breakthrough in regional and international forums to infiltrate through membership in the continental bloc, at the expense of international law, with the aim of granting the Polisario two comfortable seats, as an organization that demands separation from Morocco and is an unrecognized member of the African Union, in an effort to gain observer status in the United Nations and its subsidiary mechanisms.
Al-Kayen added, in a statement to the Hespress electronic newspaper, that all these desperate attempts have failed miserably, because the policy of imposing a fait accompli is no longer effective, and resorting to showering bribes on the leaders of failed states does not create rights for the Polisario, nor does it impose obligations on Morocco, thanks to Morocco’s strength and international influence, and the compliance of its case and methods of defense with the rules of international law and best practices in resolving conflicts peacefully.
The deputy coordinator of the Sahrawi NGO Alliance highlighted that the Algerian diplomacy's attempts to secure a seat for Polisario representatives at the upcoming African summit on November 24 and 25 in Luanda are nothing more than a tug-of-war game that Algeria is pursuing to demonstrate the Polisario's vitality and ability to be present, in a clear circumvention of the rules of international relations and the values of political and economic cooperation, rules that do not allow opening the door to non-international entities or those supported by a rogue state that has not paid any attention to liberation issues and human rights.
The Sahrawi analyst stressed that the involvement of Algerian intelligence elements and diplomats in imposing the presence of Polisario representatives at international summits, as happened at the African-Japanese summit, highlights the narrow-mindedness of Algerian diplomacy and the position of the Japanese stance towards the Western Sahara conflict, and reveals a tendency to obstruct UN and international efforts to accelerate a comprehensive solution to the conflict and achieve stability in North Africa.
Regarding Algeria’s endeavor, Al-Kayne stated that the presence of the Polisario under an Algerian umbrella reflects the disappointments of Resolution 2797 and the spirit of defeatism, and the attempt to cling to any pretext to hinder progress in the discussion on activating Security Council resolutions. However, the absence of any opportunities to make this endeavor a success is directly reflected in the reactions of Algeria and the Polisario.
He stated that Algeria is trying to embroil the African continent in a direct confrontation with the European Union, which considers Morocco a strategic partner, and with the United States, which is the pen holder and sponsor of the planned negotiations, while the international community and African countries have realized the validity of the Moroccan position, its seriousness, the strength of its international relations, and its commitment to dismantling the conflict before specific dates in accordance with United Nations resolutions.
In this context, Abdelwahab Elkain considered that the Polisario’s participation in the Africa-Europe Forum in Luanda is nothing more than the bravado of a wounded beast, unaware of the extent of the damage it has suffered, and believing in its ability to overthrow its adversaries, while the world sees it trapped in its tragedy, and it will not survive in its narrow refuge even if its life continues after its resounding fall.
For his part, Ramadan Masoud Al-Arabi, president of the Sahrawi Association for the Defense of Human Rights in Madrid, believes that the recent UN Security Council Resolution 2797 represents a clear path for the African Union to put an end to the presence of the separatist Polisario Front within the Union, noting that “this presence has become a major embarrassment at the international level and hinders the conclusion of many continental and international agreements that serve the interests of the African Union.”
Masoud added, in a statement to the Hespress electronic newspaper, that the continued representation of the Polisario Front in the African Union bodies hinders efforts to strengthen international cooperation and puts the organization in embarrassing positions before its European and international partners, stressing that “the recent decision reflects the African Union’s awareness of the inevitability of addressing this issue in a sound legal and diplomatic manner.”
The member of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs stressed that the international community, including the major European countries, considers the best solution to the issue to be engagement within the framework of autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty, and that any presence of an unrecognized entity in the African Union cannot continue without harming the credibility of the organization and its political course.
The president of the Sahrawi Association for the Defense of Human Rights stressed that the recent decision reflects an advanced awareness of the damage caused by the Polisario’s presence within the African Union, and that getting rid of this illegitimate representation will enable the continental organization to regain its effectiveness and complete its international and continental relations without obstacles.
Ramadan Masoud concluded that the next step should be decisive to ensure the expulsion of the Polisario separatist front, and to open the way for the African Union to operate in accordance with the standards of international law, which is the only solution that will enable it to strengthen its regional and international standing and allow it to complete its role in promoting cooperation and development with various partners.
