Ibrahim Ghali, Secretary-General of the Polisario Front and President of the Sahrawi Republic, has sent an official letter to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, holding Morocco responsible for the continuing tensions in Western Sahara and asserting that the current situation represents an “open war” since the ceasefire agreement was breached in 2020.
The letter addressed to the United Nations included sharp criticism of what the Polisario Front described as “misleading statements” issued by certain governments, arguing that they ignore the reality of the conflict and contribute to “covering up the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara.” The Front also stressed that the issue of Western Sahara has remained on the United Nations list of decolonization cases since 1963.
Key Points in the Polisario Letter to the United Nations
The letter stated that the Polisario Front considers Morocco directly responsible for the collapse of the 1991 ceasefire agreement following the events in Guerguerat on November 13, 2020. It also pointed out that the United Nations itself documented military movements and the construction of a new sand wall in the buffer zone in previous reports.
The letter further accused Moroccan forces of using drones and targeting civilians inside Sahrawi territories, describing these actions as “violations of international humanitarian law.” It called on the United Nations and the Security Council to assume their responsibilities toward protecting civilians and guaranteeing the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and independence.
In the same context, the Polisario Front stressed that any claims suggesting the ceasefire is still in effect “do not reflect the reality on the ground,” maintaining that military confrontations between the Sahrawi army and Moroccan forces are ongoing.
Polisario Calls on the Security Council to Act
Ibrahim Ghali urged the UN Secretary-General to inform Security Council members about the contents of the letter, calling on the international organization to adopt “a clearer position” regarding the recent developments in Western Sahara.
The Front believes that a lasting solution to the conflict can only be achieved by enabling the Sahrawi people to exercise their right to self-determination, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and General Assembly decisions related to decolonization conflicts.
Rising Tensions in Western Sahara
The letter comes amid continued political deadlock surrounding the Western Sahara issue, while the United Nations repeatedly calls for the resumption of the political process under UN supervision and for efforts to reach a lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the conflict.
Ibrahim Ghali’s letter represents the latest diplomatic move by the Polisario Front toward the United Nations at a time when the region is witnessing increasing tensions and differing international positions regarding the future of the conflict.
