Denver – Speaking at the 4th Committee of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, former Congolese Minister Pierre N’Guimbi noted that regionalization in Western Sahara was becoming ever more apparent.
The former Congolese official, who now chairs the Maroc-Afrika Cultures and Development Association, emphasized that the recent high voter turnout of cities in Western Sahara during the elections indicated the region’s strong attachment to Morocco.
N’Guimbi also discussed the opening of two dozen consulates in both Dakhla and Laayoune. These diplomatic missions and the increasingly recognized Moroccan Autonomy Initiative is a “major fact” supporting the increasingly shared belief that the Western Sahara region is Moroccan.
During his speech, N’Guimbi commended UN resolution 2548 as a step towards a long-lasting international resolution. The 2020 resolution called for a mutually acceptable political resolution, and encouraged multilateral discussion involving the parties of the Western Sahara issue.
Resolution 2548 parallels Morocco’s long-held stance of political discussion between the parties involved, and joint effort towards a long-lasting solution in the region.
“Resolution 2548 of the Security Council is foundational for the final resolution of the question of the Moroccan Sahara”, N’Guimbi emphasized during his speech.
In light of tensions this year concerning parties involved in the Western Sahara issue, the UN decided to appoint a new Personal Envoy to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres dedicated to the region. Swiss-Italian Steffan de Mistura was earmarked for the role with the support of Rabat, and many hope the diplomatic veteran can help in the international effort to help bring the issue to a fair and acceptable conclusion.
