“Côte d'Ivoire would like to reaffirm its full support for the initiative of broad autonomy in the Sahara presented by the Kingdom of Morocco in 2007,” underlined, Monday, the ambassador permanent representative of Côte d'Ivoire to the United Nations, Tiémoko Moriko, before the members of the 4th committee of the UN General Assembly.

In this regard, he welcomed the support that more than a hundred UN member states display for this “compromise solution which is in line with international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the resolutions of the Security Council and the General Assembly”.

The diplomat noted that the Autonomy initiative grants important prerogatives to local populations who participate in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the Sahara, adding that the “effectiveness” of this Autonomy is particularly reflected in the participation of these populations in the various elections organized in Morocco.

“These consultations, the last of which were held in September 2021, grant the inhabitants of this region the opportunity to democratically elect their representatives, some of whom regularly participate” in the seminars and sessions of the UN Committee of 24 (C24), he said.

The diplomat also noted that his country deems it necessary to continue with the process of round tables in the same format, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2654 adopted on October 27, 2022” and with the same participants, namely Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania and the “polisario”.

He encouraged the four participants to remain engaged throughout the political process in order to achieve a political solution to the Moroccan Sahara issue.

Côte d'Ivoire further reiterated its support for the United Nations, as well as its adherence to the political process carried out under the exclusive auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, aimed at achieving a realistic and pragmatic political solution that is sustainable and accepted by all stakeholders in the regional dispute over the Sahara.

The diplomat also indicated that his country “appreciates and supports” the efforts undertaken by the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to relaunch the political process, welcoming his recent successful visit to Morocco last September, during which he met the presidents of the two regions of the Moroccan Sahara, the authorities as well as the different components of the local population.

The Ambassador Permanent Representative of Côte d'Ivoire to the UN also called on all parties to support the initiatives and good offices of the Personal Envoy of the UNSG, intended to give a new impetus to the political process which was consolidated with the holding of two round tables in Switzerland, in 2018 and 2019 with the four participants.

Referring to the socio-economic dynamics in the southern provinces, the diplomat stressed that his country welcomes the significant investments made by the Kingdom to enhance the significant development of the Sahara which records a remarkable human development index, adding that the promotion of human rights, welcomed by the various Security Council resolutions, mainly resolution 2654, is also among the notable substantive actions that Morocco is carrying out in its southern provinces.

He also affirmed that the peaceful and definitive settlement of the long-standing regional dispute around the Moroccan Sahara is “vital” for strengthened cooperation between the member states of the Maghreb Union as well as for stability and security in the Sahel region.

Regarding human rights violations in the Tindouf camps, Mr. Moriko underlined that these abuses “continue to be a source of concern for his country, which calls for compliance with the recommendations of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), international humanitarian law and relevant Security Council resolutions.

He deemed it essential to maintain a climate of peace in the region in order to create the conditions conducive to the continuation of negotiations within the framework of the ongoing political process.

The ambassador also noted that his country welcomes Morocco's full respect of the ceasefire and existing military agreements as well as its frank collaboration with MINURSO.