Time to undo Trump's legacy in Western Sahara

One such term is the so-called "Friends of Western Sahara" which is a meeting group within the UN Security Council. But, the membership of this potentially useful vehicle is biased towards Morocco and its composition is not democratic. Western Sahara is primarily an African issue, yet African States are excluded from the Group. It is time to end Africa's exclusion and admit an African state to this Group.

The UN must demand that Morocco lift all restrictions imposed on the MINURSO, allow the African Union observers to return and allow the referendum on self-determination to take place.

Morocco continues to plunder the resources of Western Sahara in violation of numerous international laws. Last month the European General Court decided to annul the EU-Morocco agriculture and fishing trade deals because they were agreed without the consent of the people of Western Sahara. Progress towards a lasting solution in Western Sahara would be of great benefit to European nations. The EU should play an active and positive role to encourage a speedy and just solution.

The Saharawi people remain subject to rolling human rights abuses and attacks on basic liberties and freedoms as part of the Moroccan kingdom's efforts to silence those who seek their freedoms. Media still cannot tet access to the territory.

Before the resumption of any UN supervised negotiations, all Saharawi political detainees should be released, Saharawi in the occupied territories should have free movement and speech and independent observers and the media should have free access to the territory. This is likely to assist in creating adequate conditions for the negotiations and improve the confidence building measures.

The decolonisation of Western Sahara can only be achieved via two options: Either through the withdrawal of the Moroccan army and administration from the Territory or the organisation of a free, fair and just referendum of self-determination. There is no third way.

Now, 58 years later, The UN must once and for all fix a date for the referendum of self-determination and set a clear road map in accordance with the Settlement Plan agreed by both parties and adopted by the UN Security Council in 1990.

The Polisario Front can never be a partner in any process that does not fully respect the inalienable right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and independence.

The Saharawi are not prepared to spend another 30 years in futile discussions, trapped in a dialogue of the deaf with a regime in Rabat that is determined to torpedo the peace process and deny their freedom.