Morocco Denounces Algeria’s Political Manipulation at the Security Council

During a debate at the UN Security Council, Majda Moutchou, Morocco’s Deputy Permanent Representative, criticized the Algerian ambassador’s intervention, accusing him of “selective political manipulation.” She denounced his insistence on including a human rights component in MINURSO’s mandate, calling it biased and unfounded.

Moutchou pointed out that only the Algerian delegation had raised this issue, which surprised Morocco. She recalled that MINURSO’s mandate, established by the Security Council, is strictly limited to supervising the ceasefire and does not include human rights monitoring, contrary to Algeria’s claims.

She emphasized that seven out of the eleven UN peacekeeping missions do not have a human rights monitoring mandate. She condemned Algeria’s obsession with MINURSO while ignoring similar cases elsewhere. This approach, she argued, reflects a selective and biased stance.

The Moroccan diplomat reminded that in October 2024, the Security Council firmly rejected any attempt to introduce a human rights monitoring mechanism within MINURSO. This decision confirmed that the human rights situation in Moroccan Sahara does not require such a mechanism.

Moutchou also highlighted the alarming conditions in the Tindouf camps in Algeria, where thousands live under severe restrictions. She urged the UN to focus on human rights violations in these camps and criticized Algeria’s inaction on this critical issue.

Finally, she denounced Algeria’s contradictory stance on self-determination, using it as a political weapon against Morocco while disregarding it for other occupied peoples. She concluded by asserting that the Sahara is and will always remain an integral part of Morocco, deeply rooted in its history and culture.