Kingdom of Lesotho Supports Saharawi's People Right to Freedom and Independence

The elected Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho Tom Motsoahae Thabane. He led a delegation to express solidarity with the Saharawi people of the Western Sahara in North Africa., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Sahara Press Service (El Aaiun)

Western Sahara: Kingdom of Lesotho Supports Saharawi's People Right to Freedom and Independence - Communiqué

12 MAY 2013

Chahid Al Hafed — The Ministerial delegation of the Kingdom of Lesotho, visited the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic from 9 to 10 May 2013, expressed "full support" to the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and independence.

In a joint communiqué signed with the SADR, Lesotho delegation "strongly" condemned the continued occupation of some parts of the Saharawi territories by Morocco, and the continued violations of human rights in the occupied territories of Western Sahara.

The communiqué also expressed hope that the United Nations Organization would in collaboration with the African Union implement the decisions of the African Union and UN General Assembly on the decolonization of Western Sahara, in compliance with AU and UN's resolutions, especially the UN General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV).

The delegation was led by the Prime Minister Mr. Motsoahae Thomas Thabane and composed of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of the Office of the Prime Minister, the Secretary General of the Government, political adviser, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director of Protocol, and adviser to the government, along with a delegation from the press of the Kingdom of Lesotho.

This official visit coincides with the commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of the creation of the POLISARIO Front.

The Prime Minister of Lesotho and the delegation accompanying him held talks with the President of the Republic and Secretary General of the Frente POLISARIO Mr. Mohamed Abdelaziz.

The meeting focused on the latest developments on the question of Western Sahara, the situation of human rights in the occupied Saharawi territories and UN peace plan.

The two sides also discussed the issues of common interest, including the situation in Africa in general and developments of in the Sahel region in particular, as well as the ways and means to strengthen the relationship between the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Sahrawi Republic.

Upon his arrival, the delegation of Lesotho was received by the Prime Minister of the SADR Mr. Abdelkader Taleb Omar, along with members of the Saharawi government.

Mr. Thabane held several meetings in the Saharawi refugee camps and attended the Saharawi people's celebrations to commemorate the 40 th anniversary of the Frente POLISARIO.