"The international community must decide which principle will prevail: the right of self-determination or the right of conquest. On October 31, the United States successfully pushed a resolution ( UNSC 2797) through the United Nations Security Council largely endorsing a dubious "autonomy" proposal by Morocco which would recognize its takeover of the nation of Western Sahara. The kingdom, with US support, seized that former Spanish colony by force in 1975 in defiance of virtually the entire international community."
"The US-backed autonomy plan rests on the assumption that Western Sahara is already part of Morocco, a contention that has long been rejected by the United Nations and by the International Court of Justice, which sees Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory and thus an incomplete decolonization. The African Union recognizes Western Sahara as a full member state, as have over 80 countries."
On October 31, the United States pushed UNSC Resolution 2797 endorsing Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara. Morocco seized Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, by force in 1975 with US support. The United Nations and the International Court of Justice classify Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory and an incomplete decolonization. The African Union recognizes Western Sahara as a full member state, and over 80 countries have recognized it. Decades of UN resolutions called for a referendum allowing Sahrawis to choose between incorporation and independence, but Morocco refused the plebiscite. Formal acceptance of Morocco's autonomy plan would constitute recognition of territorial expansion by force and set a dangerous precedent. Only the United States and Israel have formally recognized Morocco's annexation.
Read at The Nation
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