The Moroccan Sahara region is experiencing remarkable growth at the economic, social, cultural and diplomatic levels as well as in terms of participation in the consolidation of the democratic process in the Kingdom, underlined the Ambassador of Morocco in Geneva, Omar Zniber, who denounced the baseless allegations of Algeria on the situation in the Kingdom's southern provinces.
Speaking during the 48th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Mr. Zniber highlighted the growth dynamic experienced by the Moroccan Sahara region, thanks to a global development strategy aiming at the promotion and the strengthening of the economic, political and social rights of the local population, and achieving their aspirations within the framework of national unity.
Using the right of reply to the baseless allegations of Algeria's representative, the diplomat noted that the Sahara region, once an arid desert, has today become a real economic hub with the most modern infrastructure in the different areas: ports, airports, hospitals and universities, in addition to a dynamic and diversified economy.
"Regarding political and civil rights, the last elections held on September 8 provided further proof of the unwavering support of the local population to the democratic process and national institutions," he pointed out.
"In Morocco's southern provinces, the participation of citizens in the elections was, as usual, strong, which constitutes irrefutable proof of the attachment of the citizens in these provinces to their Moroccan identity and of their effective involvement in the country's institutions and in the development of the democratic process," he stressed, noting that Morocco's democratic model is recognized and praised internationally.
He noted that, "on the other side of the borders, the Algerian regime keeps the populations of Tindouf in camps where they are deprived of their most basic rights".
The ambassador underlined in this regard that "there has never been, neither in history nor in reality, a people known as the population of Western Sahara so that the right to self-determination can be applied by misappropriation of a noble principle which is thus exploited and instrumentalised for hegemonic ends against the territorial integrity of Morocco - which is also a fundamental principle of the United Nations -".
Algerian leaders, he said, as it is today documented and recognized at the global level, did not hesitate to officially propose to the United Nations to divide the populations of the Sahara just to satisfy their ambitions to create an entity allowing this regime, not only to destabilize Morocco, but also the whole region to fulfill its objective of having access to the Atlantic.
