"In light of increased interest in the natural resources of Western Sahara, it is timely to call upon all relevant actors to 'recognize the principle that the interests of the inhabitants of these territories are paramount", the Secretary-General's report the Security Council said in paragraph 97.
The report was released on 10 April, three weeks prior to yesterday's vote in the Security Council prolonging the presence of the UN mission in Western Sahara, MINURSO, with one more year.
"The wording used in the Secretary General's report is not perfectly in tune with the UN's own legal opinion on the matter. It's not just the interests, but also the wishes of the people of the territory that are paramount. The UN legal opinion furthermore stresses the righs of the 'people' - not the 'inhabitants' - which could be interpreted by companies and Morocco to mean something else", says Erik Hagen of Western Sahara Resource Watch.
"Nevertheless, the Secretary General's report did at least mention the matter, while the Security Council choses to look away from Morocco's plunder, which undermines the parties' confidence in the UN-led peace talks - precisely that what the Security Council calls for", Hagen added.
WSRW calls on addressing plunder
WSRW calls on UN Member States to address Morocco's plunder of Western Sahara during Morocco's UPR review in November.
WSRW calls upon UN to halt the plundering
In its statement to the United Nations’ Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee), Western Sahara Resource Watch called for the establishment of a mechanism to place the proceeds from the exploitation of Western Sahara’s natural resources under international administration until the conflict has been resolved, and for the inclusion of a human rights component into the MINURSO mandate.
States urge Spain to respect Saharawi rights in Human Rights Council
Namibia and East-Timor have today recommended Spain to respect the Saharawi people's right to free, prior and informed consent with regard to the exploitation of Western Sahara's natural resources.
WSRW calls on UN Members to question Spain on Western Sahara at UPR
Next month, Spain’s human rights track record will be reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. WSRW asks UN Member States to raise the rights of the people of Western Sahara, for whom Spain continues to bear responsibility.