UN: Central African Republic Hails Development Dynamic in Morocco’s Sahara

The Central African Republic hailed, in New York, the social and economic development in Morocco’s Sahara, thanks to the new development model launched in 2015. Speaking before the members of the 4th committee of the United Nations General Assembly, the representative of the Central African Republic also welcomed the opening of consulates general in the cities of Laâyoune and Dakhla. He also expressed his country’s support for the efforts of the UN Secretary General and his Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, aimed at relaunching the political process on the basis of Security Council resolutions. He welcomed the recent visit by de Mistura to the Moroccan Sahara last September as well as Morocco’s full cooperation with the Personal Envoy in order to relaunch the political process. The Central African diplomat called, in this context, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the “Polisario” to resume the UN round table process with a view to reaching a realistic and mutually acceptable political solution to this regional dispute.  He also praised Morocco’s commitment to the ceasefire and its full cooperation with MINURSO. The diplomat denounced the unilateral withdrawal of the “Polisario” from the ceasefire as well as the restrictions it continues to impose on freedom of movement and the supply of MINURSO to destitute innocent populations, “which constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law”. He called for an “urgent and appropriate” solution to end the “suffering of these helpless populations”.