Burkina Faso and the United Arab Emirates have expressed support for Morocco’s autonomy proposal for Western Sahara, as Algeria maintained its backing for the Polisario Front’s position on self-determination.
The positions were outlined during recent United Nations General Assembly meetings, according to Business Insider Africa.
The decades-long Western Sahara dispute remains the subject of a UN-led political process involving Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria and other regional actors.
Burkina Faso backs negotiated solution
Burkina Faso’s Foreign Minister Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré reiterated his country’s support for the UN-led process.
“We encourage the continuation of efforts to reach a negotiated political solution between the parties pursuant to relevant resolutions of the Security Council,” Traoré said.
Business Insider Africa reported that Burkina Faso also expressed support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative as a basis for resolving the dispute.
Morocco proposed the initiative in 2007. It would provide Western Sahara with autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty.
UAE supports Morocco’s autonomy proposal
The UAE also reaffirmed its support for Morocco’s position.
UAE Minister of State Khalifa bin Shaheen Al Marar called for a “sustainable political solution” based on Morocco’s autonomy initiative.
According to the supplied report, several other countries also expressed support for Morocco’s proposal during UN meetings or bilateral discussions.
They included Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Armenia, Jamaica, Mauritius, Peru, Panama, Chile and the United States.
Algeria maintains support for self-determination
Algeria, meanwhile, continues to support the Polisario Front and its demand for self-determination in Western Sahara.
Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf defended his country’s position at the UN General Assembly.
Attaf argued that decolonisation disputes could not be resolved by imposing a “fait accompli”.
He said populations must be able to exercise their rights “fully and without any distortion and without any curtailment”.
Algeria has also called for direct negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front.
The two sides have remained divided over the territory’s future despite years of UN-led diplomatic efforts.