The battle promises to be close between South Africa and Morocco, two candidate countries to chair the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. This year, an African country will chair this body. The vote takes place this Wednesday, January 10, and 47 countries are participating. The Polisario is opposed to Morocco’s candidacy.
The Polisario Front claims in particular that Morocco has not ratified the African Charter on Human Rights and is violating the rights of the Sahrawis. “ We hope that the 47 member countries of the UN Human Rights Council will exercise their vote on the basis of criteria that are well established – respect for human rights, the fact that the country also represents the continent, relying on the conscience, on the values that the UN Human Rights Council represents. But we have hope, we are optimistic, says Oubi Bouchraya, representative of the Polisario in Geneva and to the United Nations, contacted by RFI.
For the Sahrawi representative, the choice is very clear between the Kingdom of Morocco and South Africa: “ It is South Africa, of course, the country which represents the values of Africa: it is the country which is the result of an exemplary liberation process, but also a country which continues to ensure peaceful coexistence while respecting the rights of all components of South African society. »
