US Pt Obama favours solution acceptable to both Morocco and Polisario Front

US President Barack Obama has pledged to continue to back efforts designed to find a peaceful, sustainable and mutually acceptable solution to the Western Sahara problem involving the two parties at issue namely Morocco and the Polisario Front.

President Obama also pledged to work in favor of protecting the Saharawi people’s human rights as gross violations were repeatedly denounced by the US State department, the US Congress and numerous international NGOs.

Following a meeting held yesterday between Pt Obama and King Mohammed VI of Morocco in Washington, the White House released a joint communiqué which shed light on the long-running Western Sahara issue and the Saharawi people’s human rights situation, as well as other questions related to US-Moroccan bilateral relations, in addition to topical regional issues including all-out cooperation against terrorism in North Africa. 

The statement by the US presidency stressed that the Western Sahara issue should be dealt within the framework of the  United Nations with the US extending backing to UN-led talks at the initiative of the UN special envoy to Western Sahara, Christopher Ross, while calling on both Morocco and the Polisario Front to work towards finding a mutually-acceptable solution.

In this regard, Mr Ross informed recently the UN Security Council that he would not convene a new round of talks between the two parties at issue unless there is an improvement in the prospects for the holding of a joint meeting.

To reach this goal, he announced a new approach through the launching of a renewed phase of negotiations based on separate bilateral exchanges with each party concerned, namely Morocco and the Polisario Front.

During his encounter with King Mohamed VI of Morocco, Pt Barack Obama also highlighted the burning issue of repeated human rights’ violations of the Saharawi people by Morocco, firmly denounced by members of the US Congress, international NGO’s and the American Press.

In this connection, president Obama and Morocco’s King affirmed their shared commitment to improving the lives of the people of the Western Sahara and agreed to work together to protect and promote human rights in the Saharawi territories.  

In a reaction to all the commitments expressed in Washington, the Polisario Front welcomed President Obama’s declared stand aimed at duly ensuring human rights protection of the Sahrawi people in Western Sahara.