Has the UN betrayed the Saharawis?

There is a limit to compromise just as there is a limit to patience. There is a line in the sand that the Saharawis cannot cross unless they decide to surrender to the Moroccan regime and become Moroccans. The Saharawis' goodwill has been over-exploited. To make any more compromises would mean political suicide.

The only just, lasting and democratic solution to the conflict in Western Sahara is through the strict implementation of international law which calls for the exercise by the Saharawi people of its inalienable right to self-determination and independence. This could be achieved through the organisation of a free, fair and transparent referendum under the auspices of both the United Nations and the African Union.

Should the UN wish to see a resolution to the issue of Western Sahara, it needs to exercise adequate pressure on Morocco to force it to abide by UN resolutions and the Peace Plan.

The UN can not just wash its hand of the Western Saharan conflict and abandon its responsibilities. Why? Because the core purpose and mandate of the UN is to maintain peace, to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and to ensure the respect of the right to self-determination.

If there is a genuine and sincere commitment to a just resolution in this conflict, the Saharawi side is always willing to cooperate with the United Nations in order to facilitate the decolonisation process.

It is important that the UN Security Council avoid attempts to derail the peace process and put an end to the apparent departure from international law in Western Sahara. Otherwise, the UN's credibility will suffer and its integrity will be buried in the Saharan sands.

The latest Secretary-General’s report does not augur well for a speedy and peaceful resolution. The writing on the wall is clear to the Saharawi people and their leadership that the UN is not able to resolve the conflict and that it is up to the Saharawi to do whatever is in their power to put pressure on Morocco to abide by international law.

The Saharawis feel betrayed by the UN and suspect that the UN took advantage of their sincere will to co-operate and compromise. They regret the waste of 15 years of efforts and hope and pray it will not be repeated again.