Maputo (Mozambique), June 21, 2025 (SPS) – The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) participated in the technical meeting to assess the implementation of the 2023 Global Refugee Forum pledges and the African Union’s humanitarian frameworks, held in the Mozambican capital, Maputo, from June 16 to 18. The Sahrawi delegation was represented by Mr. Aman Sidi Abdallah, Advisor to the SADR’s Permanent Mission to the African Union.
The Sahrawi delegation highlighted the unique conditions faced by Sahrawi refugees, who are among the longest-standing refugee populations in Africa, emphasizing the harsh climatic challenges they endure in the refugee camps.
The delegation noted that what distinguishes the Sahrawi refugee experience is their self-reliance in managing their affairs, including building infrastructure in education, healthcare, water, electricity, transportation, and connecting the camps to the internet—all with support from friendly nations and organizations, particularly host country Algeria.
The delegation also affirmed that Sahrawi refugees benefit from services fairly and without discrimination, setting a unique example within the African context.
Amid a noticeable decline in humanitarian aid, the Sahrawi delegation called for a reevaluation of humanitarian response mechanisms, emphasizing support for refugee-led initiatives such as agricultural projects, production workshops, and small-scale economic ventures, while maintaining international partner assistance.
During the discussions, some representatives of the occupying state of Morocco attempted to depoliticize refugee issues, to which the Sahrawi delegation responded by stressing that any attempt to separate politics from refuge seeks to obscure the colonial policies of the Moroccan occupation—the root cause of the displacement and ongoing suffering of the Sahrawi people.
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