C24/Sahara: The Ivory Coast reaffirms its support to the Moroccan plan of autonomy

• Agadirtoday-Mohamed Laghouizi//

The Ivory Coast has reaffirmed before the Committee 24 of the UN, its full support to the Moroccan autonomy initiative in order to close for good the regional conflict around Moroccan Sahara.

In its intervention during the seminary recently held in Managua (Nicaragua), the Ivorian delegation has underlined that this initiative, supported by 130 states, of which three are permanent members in the Security council, is in accordance with international law and United Nations charter.

“This initiative whose relevancy was dedicated by the Security Council resolution 2797, must take into account the Moroccan Sahara specifics and give the opportunity to the inhabitants for involving themselves into the management of the political life and the socioeconomic of the region”, the head of the delegation had said.

“Politically, these populations choose freely their local and national representatives during democratic elections organized regularly in the Kingdom. On the economic plan, the Ivorian delegation has pointed out that the inhabitants of the southern provinces of the Kingdom benefit from the dividends of the massive investments undertaken within the framework of the New Development Model launched in 2015, noting that these achievements had raised up the standard of living of the inhabitants and had enhanced the human development index in Moroccan Sahara”, he added.

Besides, the delegation has also highlighted the efforts made by Morocco in the matters of promoting and protecting the human rights. In the same context, the delegation has expressed its concern about the human right situation in Tindouf’s camps and has by the way called to include them in the population census.

The Ivory coast has reminded, by the way, that the opening of the general consulate in Dakhla reflects its commitment to the economic and social development of the southern regions of the Kingdom of Morocco.

At the end, the Ivorian delegation has invited all parties to be realistic and to consider the last resolution 2797 in order to find a sustainable political settlement to this regional conflict.