Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) Minister of Foreign Relations and African Affairs, Mohamed Bessat has appealed to the Federal Government of Nigeria to put its weight on the struggle for liberation from Morocco who is occupying almost two thirds of Sahrawi territory and in armed struggle against the illegal military occupation of Sahrawi territory.
Mohamed Bessat made this appeal in Abuja during his visit to
the Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tugar
Bessat said, “I came to visit Nigeria after a kind invitation from my brother and colleague, His Excellency, the Honorable Yusuf Tugar, Minister of Foreign affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And I visit in the framework of the long standing relations of brotherhood, solidarity and cooperation between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Sahara Republic, my country.
” illegal occupation of the Moroccan government in The SADR. In this framework I came to brief our brothers in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the diplomats, but also the parliamentarians about the situation and the public opinion through the media about the situation of my country. Which is sadly a situation of conflict, war and struggle for liberation, where Morocco is abusing the human rights of the population and is stealing and plundering the natural resources of the territory in the same time refusing to cooperate fully with United nations through reach a mutually acceptable political solution that will provide for the self determination of the people.
Speaking with journalists, Bassat stated that his country look up to Nigeria as a big brother to salvage their situation.
“We talked about Nigeria being the big brother and what is your mission what do you want from the Nigerian government. Yes in this regard Nigeria is not only another country Nigeria is a very important country in our continent because of its size because of its economy because of its population because of its military economic finance and moral authority in the continent have been always the backbone of all the struggle of decolonization of the continent have supported all the Portuguese colonies Guinea Bissau Cabo Verde Angola Mozambique then Nigeria was member of the frontline states right there in the vanguard of the struggle of the South African people for democracy and the self determination of the people of Namibia It’s Nigerian might and Nigerian leverage and Nigerian strong presence in the international arena that helped the continent to.”
Meanwhile, Sahara Republic, otherwise known as Western Sahara, is a country in northwest Africa located between Mauritania in the south from west of Algeria and south of Morocco, just on the Atlantic coast opposite the Canarian Islands.
The surface is 266 square miles and the population is something of estimated at 700,000 to less than a million inhabitants.
Bassat said, “Since 1975, unfortunately, when we defeated Spain, the colonialism of Spain, Spain then ruled by dictator Francisco Franco, have took revenge from our people and they signed the shameful secret Madrid Agreements which was a daylight robbery where they divided our territory between our two neighbors. That led to unfortunately to a long war with our northern Moroccan neighbors, mostly Mediterranean, now recognized Sahara Republic.
“But Morocco is occupying almost two thirds of our territory and we are in an armed struggle against this illegal, brutal military occupation of our territory. Oau, then AU African Union in joint venture with the United nations have been trying over the years to assign a plan, settlement plan of 1990, where we agreed Sahara Republic and Morocco to have a settlement plan, a compromise where we give the Sahrawi people the right to choose of being an independent country or integrating Morocco.
“These and United nations plan have been unfortunately obstacled and sabotaged by Morocco through first delay, tactics, obstructions, and now with a clear refusal. And that led unfortunately a situation of conflict and war that’s still going on the territory.
