فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
At a United Nations Security Council session, Majda Moutchou, Deputy Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN, accused the Algerian ambassador to the UN of “flagrant and selective double standards” in his handling of the issue of expanding the MINURSO mandate to include human rights monitoring, describing his statements as “selective political manipulation.”
“One delegation, the only one among the many delegations that spoke before the Council during this debate, mentioned the human rights component and tried to link it to MINURSO,” the Moroccan diplomat said in response to the Algerian ambassador’s intervention during a public debate of the Security Council on strengthening the adaptability of UN peace operations. She added that the Moroccan delegation was surprised and astonished by this intervention because “it reflects a masterclass in selective political manipulation,” noting that the Algerian ambassador “suddenly rediscovered a new passion for human rights and international law.”
Moutchou clarified that the MINURSO mandate is clear, as it was established by the Security Council to oversee the ceasefire. She emphasized that “this mandate was clearly defined by the Security Council, and any attempt by the Algerian delegation to distort its role is either uninformed or deliberately misleading,” adding that contrary to what was suggested, seven out of eleven UN peace operations do not have a mandate to monitor human rights.
“We also wonder why the Algerian delegation, which practices flagrant and selective double standards, focuses only on MINURSO and turns a blind eye to other peacekeeping operations?” Moutchou questioned. She affirmed that the Security Council grants these mandates based on the specific situation on the ground, and that “it is neither a systematic rule nor an exception; it is a decision made on a case-by-case basis.”
The Moroccan diplomat pointed out that “despite the persistent and desperate attempts of the same delegation, in October 2024, the Security Council unanimously rejected the inclusion of a human rights monitoring mechanism in the MINURSO mandate. This rejection was not accidental: it confirmed that the human rights situation in the Moroccan Sahara does not require such a mechanism.”
Moutchou considered this “a clear message that the Security Council is fully aware of the political maneuvers of some parties.” In response to the Algerian ambassador’s statement, who “seems very concerned” about human rights, Moutchou questioned “a much more urgent issue: the Tindouf camps, located on Algerian territory, where the population lives under daily oppression, deprived of their basic rights and subjected to severe restrictions on movement and flagrant violations of international law.”
Moutchou emphasized that Morocco has always demonstrated its unwavering commitment to promoting human rights and respecting the fundamental rights and freedoms of all individuals, and that it has consistently cooperated with the special procedures of the UN Human Rights Council. She added that Morocco has also welcomed many visits by UN experts and cooperated constructively to promote transparency, dialogue, and progress, noting that Morocco’s efforts in promoting human rights are not limited to words but translate into concrete actions aimed at ensuring the well-being and dignity of every citizen.
In response to the Algerian ambassador’s reference to the right to self-determination, Moutchou revealed a “troubling contradiction,” explaining that Algeria considers self-determination “a selective concept used as a political weapon against Morocco’s territorial integrity, but conveniently ignored when it comes to the legitimate aspirations of other peoples, who still live under foreign occupation and oppression.”
Moutchou concluded by affirming that “the Sahara has always been an integral part of Morocco. It is Moroccan and will remain so forever. This is not a claim based on recent events, but a reflection of centuries of historical, cultural, and geographical ties.”
