Madrid, 14 August 2025 (SPS) – Former U.S. diplomat and ex-National Security Advisor John Bolton has called for a self-determination referendum in Western Sahara to preserve regional security, warning that the unresolved conflict will have repercussions on the stability of Africa and, by extension, Europe.
In an interview with Spanish journalist Héctor Santorum for Sahara Occidental Radio Revolución on Tuesday, Bolton stated: "What was agreed upon in 1991 was clear: to grant the Sahrawi people the right to decide their own future. This referendum was never meant to divide one country into two, as Morocco and Western Sahara have always been two distinct territories."
The former diplomat argued that denying this territory a referendum constitutes "a glaring injustice." He stressed that a "fair and lasting solution is imperative," adding that "keeping the Sahrawis in refugee camps cannot be considered an acceptable option."
He noted that "Morocco, despite agreeing in 1991, now refuses to hold a self-determination referendum." However, UN Security Council resolutions have been clear from the start: a referendum must be organized for the Sahrawi people. Yet, Morocco has relied on a policy of fait accompli and obstructed the process for over three decades.
Beyond Western Sahara, Bolton warned that the issue is closely tied to the stability of the Sahel region and Morocco’s expansionist ambitions, "as evidenced by certain Moroccan maps."
"As long as this disorder persists in a vital part of Africa, the risk of instability spreading across the continent or reaching Europe remains very real," he cautioned, adding that "Europe, due to its geographic proximity, should pay far more attention to this issue."
When asked about France’s alignment with Morocco’s occupation stance, Bolton responded that "a country claiming to be a democracy should not oppose the Sahrawi people’s right to vote."
Regarding the lack of a human rights monitoring mechanism within MINURSO (UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara), Bolton stated: "When the mission was established, we believed it would be short-term—to verify the 1975 Spanish census, organize the referendum, and ensure a safe environment. Its role was to maintain peace and security, guarantee safe conditions for the referendum, and ensure a free and transparent process, which inherently involves human rights."
Addressing Morocco’s attempts to discredit the Polisario Front, the former U.S. diplomat noted that all such efforts have failed under rigorous international scrutiny by UN observers, emphasizing that Morocco’s accusations are baseless.
Bolton also praised the Polisario Front’s efforts, stating that it "has successfully kept Western governments and the African Union (AU) informed of its position and maintained near-unanimous African support for the referendum as the only solution." He added that the Polisario is not demanding major concessions from Morocco—only the implementation of what was agreed upon.
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