HIBAPRESS
Gala Bahya, an elected official from the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region, confirmed during the regional conference of the UN's Committee of 24, held this week in Managua, Nicaragua, that the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2797 established a "real historical turning point," paving the way for a "new era after October 31, 2025," according to the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
She explained, in her intervention as a citizen from the city of Dakhla and a democratically elected representative of the region, that this resolution consolidates a new international dynamic in addressing this regional dispute, manifested through five main developments. She highlighted the explicit and unequivocal recognition by the UN Security Council that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty constitutes the most applicable, realistic, and sustainable solution for resolving this dispute. Ms. Bahya, who is participating in this conference in her capacity as a local elected official from the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region, at the official invitation of the President of the Committee of 24, recalled that more than 130 countries now support the Moroccan initiative for autonomy, including three permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, France, and the United Kingdom – as well as Spain. She also highlighted the opening of 32 consulates general in the Moroccan Sahara for countries from four continents, considering this diplomatic presence a "concrete embodiment of political recognition and trust in the stability and economic potentials of the region." On the other hand, the speaker addressed the "gradual fading of support for the separatist thesis," recalling that more than 50 countries, including recently Mali and Honduras, have withdrawn their recognition of the so-called "Sahrawi Republic". Speaking about the terrorist attacks by the "Polisario" that targeted the city of Smara on May 5, 2026, Ms. Bahya affirmed that these actions are "sufficient to prompt the international community to seriously question the true nature of this armed separatist group." She pointed out that the wave of condemnations that followed these attacks, issued by permanent members of the Security Council and many member states of the United Nations, international and regional organizations, shows that the "Polisario" poses a "threat to regional peace and stability." In this context, she mentioned the ongoing discussions within the US Congress regarding a possible classification of the "Polisario" as a terrorist organization. Ms. Bahya also reviewed the new trends established by Resolution 2797, especially the importance given to the census of the population in the Tindouf camps, describing this step as necessary to reach a credible and lasting political solution. In this context, the speaker denounced the "continuous deprivation of fundamental rights," recalling the continued absence of a census of the population in the Tindouf camps, despite repeated appeals from the Security Council since 2011. She considered that this situation remains "unprecedented in the history of international protection for refugees," denouncing the embezzlement of humanitarian aid, documented by several international bodies, as well as restrictions on freedom of movement and on the principle of voluntary return. In a paradox with this situation, Ms. Bahya highlighted the profound transformations taking place in the southern provinces, within the framework of the new development model launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in 2015, recalling that this model mobilized more than 100 billion dirhams, with an implementation rate exceeding 96 percent, which enables the development of strategic infrastructure and structured energy, logistical, and social projects. In this context, Ms. Bahya mentioned the Tiznit-Dakhla expressway and the Dakhla Atlantic port, which constitutes a strategic platform connecting Africa, Europe, and the Atlantic. The speaker included this dynamic in the context of the major Atlantic initiatives launched by His Majesty the King, especially the Atlantic initiative for the benefit of the Sahel countries, the series of African Atlantic states, and the Africa-Atlantic gas pipeline, which embodies an "integrated and harmonious African vision," based on strengthening connectivity, South-South cooperation, and transforming the Moroccan Sahara into a strategic hub heading towards Africa and the Atlantic. She stressed the democratic legitimacy of this model, recalling that the population of the southern provinces of Morocco is represented through elected institutions during regular and fair elections, which see high participation rates. Ms. Gala Bahya noted that "the convergence between field realities and international positions has become clear," confirming that autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty "is no longer an option among others, but constitutes an exclusive framework supported by the Security Council through growing international consensus." In conclusion, she reiterated that Morocco keeps "the hand of sincere dialogue" extended towards Algeria, within the framework of mutual respect, good neighborliness, cooperation, and regional stability.
