New York (United Nations), June 18, 2026 (SPS) – Several countries from Latin America and the Caribbean have reaffirmed their steadfast support for the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination and independence in accordance with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples.
The statements were delivered during the substantive session of the Special Committee on the Situation with Regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (Committee of Twenty-Four), which began its work on Monday at UN Headquarters in New York.
The representative of Nicaragua reiterated her country's support for the inalienable rights of the brotherly people of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, namely freedom, self-determination, and national sovereignty. She recalled General Assembly resolutions recognizing the Polisario Front as the sole and legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people. She stressed the need to keep the issue on the decolonization agenda of the General Assembly, the Fourth Committee, and the Special Committee until a final settlement is achieved. She emphasized that the only just and definitive solution to this colonial situation is the holding of a self-determination referendum under UN supervision, in accordance with the resolutions of the General Assembly and the Special Committee. She also called for the resumption of genuine negotiations conducted in good faith and without preconditions, enabling the Sahrawi people to exercise their rights to freedom, independence, and self-determination.
The representative of Venezuela reaffirmed her country's historic commitment to decolonization and solidarity with the Sahrawi people. She recalled that since establishing diplomatic relations with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in 1983, Venezuela has consistently supported the Sahrawi people's exercise of its inalienable right to self-determination in accordance with international law, the UN Charter, and relevant resolutions of the Security Council, General Assembly, and African Union, particularly Resolution 1514 (XV). She expressed concern over the continuation of this colonial situation for more than five decades and stressed that the Sahrawi people have the legitimate right to determine its future freely. She noted that no political process can be considered genuinely fair unless it fully recognizes this right. In this regard, she regretted the incomplete implementation of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), established more than 30 years ago specifically to facilitate a self-determination referendum, which has unnecessarily prolonged the suffering of the Sahrawi people. She reiterated that resolving the Western Sahara issue requires dialogue and respect for international law and expressed hope that the political process would advance effectively, allowing the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination as soon as possible.
The representative of Cuba recalled that the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the African Union have adopted numerous resolutions on Western Sahara since the territory was placed on the decolonization agenda more than sixty years ago. She stressed the necessity for the international community to implement UN resolutions concerning Western Sahara. She expressed deep regret that Western Sahara remains the last colonial territory in Africa, a continent with a long history of struggles for self-determination and independence. Cuba reaffirmed its support for a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution leading to the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara in accordance with General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV). She also rejected unilateral decisions that ignore the interests and rights of the Sahrawi people and violate international law, the UN Charter, and General Assembly Resolutions 1514 (XV) and 2625 (XXV). Cuba pledged to continue defending the legitimate aspirations of the Sahrawi people in all multilateral forums and reiterated its unwavering solidarity and support for their right to self-determination and independence.
The representative of Belize expressed his country's solidarity with the Sahrawi people in their legitimate aspiration to exercise their right to self-determination freely and fully. He recalled that the International Court of Justice had affirmed that self-determination is a peremptory norm of international law and had recognized its applicability to the people of Western Sahara. He noted that despite more than 60 years since Western Sahara was placed on the agenda of the Special Committee, the decolonization process remains unfinished. Belize expressed concern that the Sahrawi people are still waiting to exercise a fundamental right that the United Nations is mandated to protect. He stressed that any solution to the Western Sahara issue must conform to the principles of the UN Charter, be acceptable to both parties, and guarantee the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara through a free, fair, and democratic process. He concluded by emphasizing that UN efforts must serve the fundamental objective of enabling the Sahrawi people to determine their own future, as no external party can make that decision on their behalf.
The representative of Colombia reaffirmed his country's commitment to achieving a peaceful, just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution to the Western Sahara issue within the framework of the decolonization process and in accordance with the UN Charter. He stressed that such a solution must allow the Sahrawi people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination in line with General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) and other relevant resolutions. He also highlighted Colombia's strong support for MINURSO, describing its presence as a key factor for stability on the ground. He emphasized the need to preserve the mission's neutrality, credibility, and mandate and to strengthen its capacity to carry out its responsibilities effectively.
The representative of Mexico reiterated his country's commitment to the right of peoples to self-determination, a fundamental principle of its foreign policy. In this context, he welcomed the resumption of direct negotiations between the parties and commended the efforts led by the UN Secretary-General to achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable solution based on the UN Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions concerning Western Sahara. He also expressed Mexico's support for the good offices of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, tasked with facilitating dialogue and building mutual confidence. He called on the parties to explore all possible avenues for resolving the conflict and reaching a final, lasting, and fair political solution that enjoys broad acceptance and guarantees the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination, in accordance with the will of the General Assembly and the Security Council.
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