New York, 29 October 2026 (SPS) – Polisario Front Representative to the United Nations and coordinator with MINURSO, Sidi Mohamed Omar, said that the past five decades had unequivocally demonstrated the Sahrawi people's unwavering commitment to their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, and to living in peace, freedom and dignity in their homeland.
Addressing a high-level seminar on Western Sahara at UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday, he stressed that the territory's status as a Non-Self-Governing Territory, recognised by the United Nations since 1963, establishes the international legal framework for its decolonisation, in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 1514 (1960) and other relevant resolutions.
He warned that efforts by the United States and France to reshape the peace process by sidelining the decolonisation framework risk undermining international law and the Sahrawi people's right to freely determine their future.
Commenting on the US draft resolution on MINURSO currently under consideration by Security Council members, he said the text represented a serious departure from international law and contained provisions that could legitimise Morocco's occupation and undermine the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination.
He reiterated that the draft, unless subjected to substantial and meaningful changes, could not serve as a basis for discussions on MINURSO or the peace process, warning that the Polisario Front would have no choice but to withdraw from the process if the text were adopted unchanged.
He reaffirmed the Polisario Front's commitment to a just, lasting and final peace, urging all concerned parties to use their influence constructively to safeguard the UN-led process and regional peace and security.
He recalled that Security Council Resolution 2797 (2025) reaffirmed that a settlement must comply with the UN Charter, be acceptable to both the Polisario Front and Morocco, and ensure the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.
He also noted that the UN and the United States had facilitated direct talks between the two parties, with Algeria and Mauritania participating as neighbouring countries and observers. However, he cautioned that it was too early to assess the process, citing the serious challenges facing negotiations and what he described as Morocco's lack of political will to reach a comprehensive settlement.
The Sahrawi representative stressed that the 1991 settlement plan, jointly established by the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity and accepted by both parties, remains a practical and mutually agreed basis for completing the decolonisation of Western Sahara.
Concluding his address, Ammar emphasised that a peaceful and lasting solution requires a genuine opportunity for the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination freely and democratically.
“Self-determination means that the people concerned make the decision themselves, rather than having another party decide on their behalf,” he stressed.
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