In an article entitled "Western Sahara: advantageous autonomy for all," the president of the Center, Ms. Malgorzata Bonikowska, said that the former Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations for the Sahara, Peter Van Walsum came to the conclusion that the independence option in the Sahara is "unrealistic" and does not guarantee the Sahrawi conditions for normal life.

 

The reports and assessments prepared by the United Nations over the last few years indicate that autonomy is the best solution to the Sahara issue, adding, in this regard, that the recommendation is included in the 2008 report developed by Peter Van Walsum, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations at that time, Kofi Annan.

 

After noting that several African and Latin American countries withdrew their recognition from the so called and states of the continent today insistently demanding the return of Morocco to the African Union, the President of the Polish think tank, indicated that more autonomy to Sahrawis is an opportunity after cease-fire in 1991 after a long armed conflict.

 

She puts the emphasis on large investments injected by Morocco in the southern provinces, in order to guarantee Sahrawis better living conditions with a harmonious development in all sectors.

 

At the same time, she noted, the living conditions in the Tindouf camps in Algeria are extremely difficult and the EU's financial and other organizations are ill-managed.

 

Malgorzata Bonikowska mentioned in this regard, recent inspections of European anti-corruption office OLAF contained in a report published April 29, after the UN resolution, bringing the European Parliament to request a reassessment of the aid to sequestered people in Tindouf and organizing a census of the populations in the camps.

 

No census has been held since the establishment of the camps in Algeria where the difficulties to determine the number of people living there. For Europe, says the Centre president, the fundamental question is to ensure the security of the border south through the strengthening of stability in the region, stating that the settlement of the Sahara issue would bring peace between Morocco and Algeria and promote cooperation between the two countries facing the destabilizing threat to North Africa and the Middle East from the "Islamic State".

 

After adding that Morocco advocates a tolerant Islam, the President of Think Tank said the Sahara issue is vital for the Kingdom, adding that for Sahrawis, broad autonomy would allow them look to the future.

 

"A broad autonomy will also bring them peace, economic stability and capacity development opportunities in their area which will have beneficial on their socio-professional and financial situation," many benefits contained in the Moroccan autonomy proposal, concluded the President of the International Relations Center.

 

- News and events on Western Sahara issue / Corcas-