Nigeria and the liberation struggles for Western Sahara, By Ahmed Aminu-Ramatu Yusuf

Nigeria has a wealthy custom of figuring out and supporting individuals struggling in opposition to colonialism. The Nationwide Affiliation of Nigerian College students (NANS) within the Nineteen Eighties performed an necessary position in popularising the independence struggles for Western Saharans in opposition to Moroccan colonialism. 

NANS condemned Nigeria’s position within the abortion of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Heads of State Summit in Tripoli on August 5, 1982. The abortion was to, amongst others, cease the admission of WS into the OAU. In December 1982, NANS took the independence of WS on the similar stage it took the wrestle for Namibia, South Africa and Palestine independence by demanding that the POLISARIO Entrance be recognised because the genuine and sole consultant of Western Saharans.

NANS equally demanded that authorities accorded the  POLISARIO Entrance all of the essentially diplomatic entitlements worthy for a sovereign nation. It additionally referred to as on the federal government to offer political, diplomatic, materials and monetary assist to the Entrance.

Basic Muhammadu Buhari’s army regime performed  an necessary position within the admission of WS as a member of OAU. Professor Ibrahim Gambari, then Nigerian Overseas Affairs Minister, performed a pivotal   position on this respect. Aside from convincing the army to recognise WS as an unbiased nation, he additionally  participated actively within the bilateral and multilateral conferences amongst  numerous Heads of States, which paved the best way for  OAU’s recognition and admission of WS as a member on 11 November 11, 1984 on the twentieth Summit of the then OAU.

With the intense political degeneration of NANS, the Society for Worldwide Relations Consciousness (SIRA) and the Nigerian Motion for the Liberation of Western Sahara (NMLWS) amongst different organisations stored  the wrestle for the independence wrestle of WS in Nigeria alive. These organisations efficiently annoyed Morocco’s bid  to hitch the Financial Neighborhood of West African States (ECOWAS).

Admitting Morocco into ECOWAS would have rationalised Morocco’s colonisation, and paved the best way for different African nations to politically legitimise its colonisation of WS. Secondly, it might have demoralised the POLISARIO Entrance and its allies all around the world. Thirdly, it might have reversed the positive aspects of the Saharawi and non-Saharawi peoples for the independence of WS. Fourthly, it might have offered big markets for Morocco to promote the looted merchandise of WS. 

On 13 August, Nigeria’s foremost human rights and democracy activist, Femi Falana, offered a paper on “The Authorized Implications of  Continued Colonialism within the World”  It was on the Worldwide Convention to Eradicate Colonialism within the World, organised by SIRA in Abuja. The paper is kind of necessary because it critically examined the authorized struggles for the independence of WS within the Basic Courtroom of the European Union. There, three circumstances had been introduced in opposition to the European Union (EU).

The primary, T-279/19, sought to annul the Council Determination 2019/217 of 28 January, 2019 on Settlement between the EU and Morocco.

The second case, T-344/19, sought to annual the Council Determination 2019/441 of 4 March, 2019 on the conclusion of the EU-Morocco Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Settlement.

The third, T-356/19, sought the annulment of the Council Regulation 2019/440 of 29 November, 2018, allocating the fishing alternatives underneath the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Settlement.

The rulings on these circumstances assert that the POLISARIO Entrance is the: “authorized persona because the internationally recognised consultant of the individuals of Western Sahara”. Secondly, that: “Western Sahara has a standing that’s separate and distinct from Morocco and, as such, ought to be thought to be a 3rd occasion to any EU-Morocco settlement.” 

Thirdly, that any settlement on any problem regarding WS: “essentially requires the consent of the individuals of Western Sahara by means of their illustration (and) that the consultations of the native inhabitants carried out by the EU establishments didn’t meet that requisite.” 

Within the African Courtroom on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPRs), an African, Bernard Mornah, introduced a case in opposition to the Republics of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Malawi, Tanzania, and Tunisia. The case was filed on the Applicant’s behalf by Falana Chambers. 

The applicant argued that these states abdicated their worldwide obligations by admitting Morocco into the AU with none situations requesting it to finish its occupation and colonisation of WS. That, by so doing, they didn’t safeguard the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of SADR.

The Courtroom handed a “landmark judgement”, which said that: “Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara is a violation of the fitting to self-determination and independence, and that every one States have an obligation to help the individuals of Western Sahara of their wrestle for self-determination.”

Secondly, that: “a number of different autonomous human rights had been violated by Morocco in Western Sahara, together with the fitting to eliminate pure assets.” Thirdly, that the continued colonisation of WS by Morocco: “is incompatible with the fitting to self-determination of the individuals of SADR”. 

Fourthly, that whereas the eight States didn’t themselves straight violate the rights of the Saharawi individuals, they do have an obligation to help the individuals of Western Sahara of their wrestle for self-determination. Fifthly, that the eight states, and all Member States of the AU: “have the duty underneath worldwide legislation, to discover a everlasting answer to the occupation and to make sure the enjoyment of the inalienable proper to self-determination of the Sahrawi individuals and to not do something that may give recognition to such occupation as lawful or impede their enjoyment of this proper”.

Falana, on these foundation, submitted that that the ACHPRs: “echoes the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice and the Courtroom of Justice of the European Union. The mixed impact of those rulings is that the occupation of a part of the territory of Western Sahara by Morocco can’t be justified underneath worldwide legislation.” Put otherwise, that: “Morocco isn’t competent to take advantage of any of the huge pure assets in Western Sahara as they belong to the Saharawi individuals.”

Falana proposed intense authorized actions be introduced in opposition to all African States to: “cease the importation of fish, phosphate and different merchandise from Western Sahara with out the consent and authority of the POLISARIO  Entrance.” Additionally, that the gasoline pipeline between Nigeria and Morocco should not be allowed to move by means of the territory of Western Sahara with out the consent and authority of the Polisario Entrance. 

Falana additionally urged  that the fifteen African nations which have established consulates in Western Sahara ought to be: “uncovered and challenged with a view to closing down the consulates.” Additional, that African progressive forces ought to “mount stress on the African Union to adjust to the judgment of the African Courtroom by adopting measures to finish the unlawful occupation of the territory of Western Sahara by Morocco.”

Moreover, Falana referred to as on SADR to make a Declaration to allow Western Saharans to entry the African Courtroom on Human and Peoples Rights according to article 34(6) of the Protocol for the Institution of the African Courtroom.

The  Saharawi journey to independence has been an extended and torturous one however they may attain their vacation spot and, a rustic like Nigeria has the obligation to help them to take action, by any means needed.

Ahmed Aminu-Ramatu Yusuf labored as deputy director, Cupboard Affairs Workplace, The Presidency, and retired as Basic Supervisor (Administration), Nigerian Meteorological Company, (NiMet). E-mail: aaramatuyusuf@yahoo.com