African Day and the Sahrawi Republic

On the occasion of Africa Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic extended its warmest congratulations to the peoples and governments of the continent and reaffirmed its pride in belonging to a continent that embodies the values ​​of liberation, unity, and dignity. Western Sahara is a disputed territory in northwest Africa. It covers approximately 272,000 square kilometers, is largely desert, and is sparsely populated with approximately 620,000 inhabitants. 13 Until 1975, it was a Spanish colony, known as the Spanish Sahara. Then Spain withdrew, and Morocco and Mauritania laid claim to the territory. The indigenous Sahrawi people, led by the Polisario Front, resisted Moroccan control and proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1976, which controls approximately 30% of the territory; Morocco controls the rest, including major cities and resources. Mauritania withdrew its claim in 1979. The United Nations considers Western Sahara a non-self-governing territory and supports the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination. However, a promised referendum on independence never took place due to ongoing disputes. The conflict included guerrilla warfare and a 1991 UN-brokered ceasefire with a buffer zone between Moroccan and Polisario-controlled territories. Western Sahara is rich in phosphate deposits and fishery resources and has potential offshore oil reserves. It remains Africa's last major colonial territory without recognized independence. In summary, Western Sahara is a territory claimed by Morocco but contested by the Sahrawi people. It is a long-standing conflict and has an unresolved status under international law. In a press release, the ministry called for greater African solidarity to end the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara. It emphasized the need to uphold the decisions of the African Union, including the 2020 Summit Resolution "Silencing the Guns," which reaffirms the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination in accordance with the principles of the AU's Constitutive Act. The full text of the press release follows: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Press Release on the Occasion of Africa Day On the occasion of Africa Day, celebrated annually on May 25th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic extends its warmest greetings to all our brothers and sisters across the peoples and governments of our African continent. We renew our pride in belonging to this united continental space, which stands as a symbol of struggle, liberation, and dignity. Africa Day is not merely a commemoration of the founding of the Organization of African Unity in 1963; it is a day to reflect on the long journey of our peoples towards freedom and independence. It is an opportunity to renew our commitment to the noble ideals laid down by the founding fathers: African unity, respect for the sovereignty of states, the sanctity of borders inherited upon independence, and adherence to the values of justice, human rights, and the rights of peoples. On this significant occasion, the Sahrawi Republic expresses deep gratitude and pride for the unwavering and continuous support its just cause receives from African peoples and states, particularly through the steadfast position of the African Union in defending the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination and the completion of their national sovereignty. The Sahrawi Republic reaffirms the vital role of the African Union and all African peoples who believe in its principles in supporting the Sahrawi people's struggle to liberate the occupied territories of an African state that is a founding member of the Union. This is a collective responsibility, rooted in our shared commitment to the spirit of liberation and justice upon which the OAU and AU were built. In this context, the Sahrawi Republic underscores the importance of respecting the decisions of the AU and its various institutions—most notably the critical resolution adopted by the 2020 Extraordinary Summit on “Silencing the Guns,” which emphasized the need to resolve the Western Sahara conflict through a solution that ensures the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination, in accordance with UN resolutions and relevant AU decisions, and in line with the principles and objectives of the AU Constitutive Act. As a founding member of the African Union, the Sahrawi Republic renews its full commitment to the principles, objectives, and values on which the Union was built. It reaffirms its readiness to actively contribute to building a united, secure, and prosperous continent grounded in the rule of law, justice, human dignity, and the rights of peoples. Furthermore, the Sahrawi Republic warns against all attempts to undermine the sovereignty and independence of African states through illegal occupation of their territories, the systematic looting of their resources, or efforts to hinder their progress—such as the situation in Western Sahara, the last remaining colony in Africa. On this historic day, the Sahrawi Republic issues a sincere call to all vibrant forces across Africa to strengthen their solidarity with the Sahrawi people's struggle until they achieve their full right to freedom and independence, just like all African peoples who have fought for their self-determination. Long live a free and united Africa Long live the struggle of the Sahrawi people Bir Lehlou, May 25, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sahrawi Republic." (SPS)