Western Sahara

Oxfam is deeply concerned that during the long-term vacancy in the post, all political negotiations – which President Kohler had relaunched and revitalized after six years of stagnation – have completely stalled, and the 29-year ceasefire between the Polisario Front and Morocco has collapsed.

Today’s proclamation by United States President Donald Trump asserting the sovereignty of Morocco over Western Sahara undermines ongoing UN led peace processes and denies the right to self-determination of the Sahrawi people.

Renewed fighting in Western Sahara between the Frente Polisario and Morocco after a 29-year ceasefire, threatens regional stability and renews fears for the security and future of Sahrawi refugees – most of whom have been displaced since 1975.

In reaction to the UN Security Council's renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSU) today, Oxfam welcomed the decision but warned of the continued suffering of over 170,000 Sahrawi refugees in Algeria as the conflict marks its 45th year this October.

Coronavirus has breached the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria, putting over 170,000 chronically ill refugees at significant risk, Oxfam said today. 

Over 170,000 people in the Sahrawi refugee camps are bracing for the Coronavirus as local authorities and organizations remain extremely underprepared for the pandemic due to dwindling funding, Oxfam said today.

Oxfam welcomes the decision of the UN Security Council to renew the mandate of MINURSO for a further 6 months instead of the usual one-year extension, compelling the parties to take real and substantive action in a timely matter.

In response to the UN Security Council's six month renewal of the mandate of the UN mission that has been monitoring a ceasefire in Western Sahara since 1991 and its outline of steps for a return to negotiations, Oxfam says MINURSO must re-affirm and implement its full mandate.