19th Non-Aligned Movement Summit supports UN political process on Western Sahara

The 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) reaffirmed, at the end of its proceedings Saturday in Kampala, its support for the UN political process concerning the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, with a view to reaching a “mutually acceptable political solution.”

The Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement welcomed the process of negotiations held under the auspices of the United Nations, “as well as the commitment of the parties to continue to show political will and work in an atmosphere propitious for dialogue, in order to enter into a more intensive phase of negotiations,” says the Summit’s final Declaration.

The 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement notes that the goal is also to ensure the implementation of the latest resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, which have consecutively underlined that the Moroccan autonomy initiative is serious and credible.

The Final Document also highlighted the importance and relevance of the resolutions adopted since 2007 by the UN Security Council, including its resolution 2703 adopted on October 30, 2023, which confirmed that the definitive political solution can only be a “realistic, pragmatic, lasting political and compromise-based solution.”

This resolution, which established the round tables as the sole framework for the UN political process, clearly identified the parties to this process, calling on them to remain committed to it until its conclusion.

It should be recalled that all the Security Council resolutions adopted since 2007, and clearly mentioned in the Final Document of the Kampala Summit, underline the pre-eminence of the Moroccan Autonomy Initiative as a serious and credible basis and the only point of arrival for the political process.

Finally, the Final Declaration called on all parties to cooperate fully with the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for the Moroccan Sahara, while welcoming their continued commitment to the political process under UN auspices.

The Kampala Summit also praised Morocco’s role in peacekeeping and peacebuilding at UN level, notably through its presidency of the Central African Republic Configuration, and through its status as coordinator of the Non-Aligned Movement Working Group on UN peacekeeping operations.

The Heads of State and Government also commended Morocco’s significant contribution to the regional and international fight against terrorism.

The NAM also backed and encouraged Moroccan national and regional initiatives on human development and sustainable development, as well as on the fight against corruption, migration and climate change.

In addition, the Kampala Declaration praised Morocco’s key role in facilitating the UN process to support pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR).

Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, represented King Mohammed VI, May God Assist Him, at the 19th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).

The Moroccan delegation led by Bourita includes the Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN, Omar Hilale, the Ambassador of the King to Dar Es-Salam, Zakaria Goumiri, the Ambassador, Director-General of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation, Mohamed Metqal, and the Director of the United Nations and International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Redouane Houssaini.