Sahara Issue: The Republic of Guinea Reaffirms Support for Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative

The Republic of Guinea reiterated, in New York, its support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative, deeming it the “good basis” for a compromise solution to the regional dispute over the Sahara. This serious and credible proposal is in accordance with international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the resolutions of the Security Council, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Guinea to the UN, Ambassador Paul Goa Zoumanigui, told the 4th Committee of the United Nations General Assembly. The diplomat welcomed the strong international momentum in favor of the autonomy plan, recalling that some thirty UN member states, including the Republic of Guinea, have opened consulates general in the cities of Laayoune and Dakhla. Regarding the socio-economic development underway in the southern provinces, he welcomed the investments made in this part of the Kingdom which “contribute to the empowerment of populations at the political, economic and social levels as well as in terms of human rights.” He also highlighted the efforts of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, aimed at resuming the round table process with the same format and the same participants, namely Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the “polisario” in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, in particular 2703. The diplomat stressed that his country appreciates the participation for the 16th consecutive year of the democratically elected representatives of the Moroccan Sahara in the regional seminar of the UN C-24 Committee, as well as in the annual session of the C24 and the Geneva round tables. The representative of the Republic of Guinea also called for respect for the ceasefire, the cessation of any obstruction of movement and the operational supplying activities of MINURSO. The ambassador, who condemned the humanitarian conditions prevailing in the Tindouf camps, called for respecting the basic rights of the populations of the Tindouf camps, particularly women and children. He underscored, in this regard, the urgent need to proceed with the registration and census of the populations of these camps in accordance with international humanitarian law, the mandate of the UNHCR and the recommendations of the UN chief and all Security Council resolutions.