Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Sunday called on the international community to “assume its responsibilities and accelerate the settlement of the Saharawi issue under the aegis of the United Nations”, renewing his support for the Polisario Front.
This came in a letter Bouteflika sent to the President of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the unilateral proclamation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) on 27 February 1976.
In a message published by the official Algerian press agency, Abdelaziz Bouteflika said, “the international community must assume its responsibilities and accelerate the settlement of the Saharawi issue under the aegis of the United Nations to allow the Saharawi people to exercise their right to self-determination “.
He added, addressing the president of the Polisario Front: “I wish to reiterate Algeria’s unwavering support for your cause and to reaffirm its determination to continue its hard work for the organization of a free referendum, and to enable the Saharawi people to exercise their right to self-determination under the aegis of the United Nations, in application of the Security Council resolutions. “
The territory of the Sahara has been subject of an armed conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front since 1975, before the conclusion of a ceasefire agreement under the auspices of the United Nations, supported by Algeria.
Since the armed clashes in 1977 between the Algerian and Moroccan armies, the borders between the two countries have been closed since 1994.
The UN is overseeing the negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front in order to put an end to the conflict between the two parties. Rabat proposes a broader self-governance under its control while the Polisario calls for the organization of a referendum. The latter proposal is supported by Algeria.
