Algeria Advocates for Sahrawi Refugees' Rights at UNHCR Executive Committee

Algeria, represented by its Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, Idris Latrach, addressed the UNHCR Executive Committee on Tuesday, emphasizing the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination. The statement came in response to Morocco's remarks on sustainable solutions and ethical approaches to the Sahrawi refugee situation. Algerian representative Idris Latrach emphasized the need to separate humanitarian considerations from the political realities of the Western Sahara conflict.

Latrach highlighted three key points. Firstly, the Sahrawi refugees originate from Western Sahara, a territory classified as non-self-governing. Secondly, their inalienable right to self-determination is at the core of their plight. Thirdly, humanitarian aid should not be politicized or used as a bargaining tool, asserting that protection and assistance are inherent rights of refugees, not charitable acts.

Algeria reiterated its commitment to the principles of the 1951 Refugee Convention, calling on the international community to continue supporting the Sahrawi refugees. It also stressed that humanitarian concerns should not obscure the political path towards addressing the root causes of the conflict in Western Sahara.

Latrach criticized Morocco's attempt to present itself as a moral authority on sustainable solutions, describing it as opportunistic and insincere. He urged the international community to avoid conflating humanitarian issues with political realities, emphasizing the need for a clear distinction between the two.

Algeria has been hosting Sahrawi refugees for over five decades, with camps in Tindouf and other locations. These camps are open and transparent, with the presence of over five UN agencies and more than twenty international NGOs, along with regular visits from donors, observers, and UN mechanisms.