Rabat: Morocco’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Majda Moutchou, has criticized the “blatant and selective double standards” to which the Algerian ambassador to the UN resorted regarding the expansion of MINURSO’s mandate to include the human rights component, denouncing “selective political manipulation”.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Majda Moutchou emphasized that only one delegation, the Algerian, mentioned the human rights component and attempted to link it to MINURSO during an open debate of the Security Council on strengthening the adaptability of UN peace operations. She expressed surprise at this intervention, describing it as a “masterclass in selective political manipulation,” and noted that the Algerian ambassador seemed to have recently developed an interest in human rights and international law.

Moutchou clarified that MINURSO’s mandate, established by the Security Council, is explicitly to supervise the ceasefire and any attempt by the Algerian delegation to alter its role is either a misunderstanding or a deliberate misrepresentation. She highlighted that seven out of eleven UN peace operations do not have human rights monitoring mandates and questioned why the Algerian delegation focused only on MINURSO while ignoring other peacekeeping operations.

The Moroccan diplomat further explained that the Security Council assigns human rights mandates based on specific situations on the ground and not as a general rule. She noted that last October, the Security Council unanimously rejected the inclusion of a human rights monitoring mechanism in MINURSO’s mandate, reaffirming that such a mechanism is unnecessary for the Moroccan Sahara.

Moutchou also challenged the Algerian ambassador’s concern about human rights by pointing to the Tindouf camps in Algeria, where the population faces daily oppression and severe movement restrictions, violating international law. She emphasized Morocco’s commitment to promoting human rights, highlighting the Kingdom’s engagement with the UN Human Rights Council and its cooperation with UN experts to foster transparency and progress.

Addressing the Algerian ambassador’s mention of the right to self-determination, Moutchou pointed out a contradiction in Algeria’s stance, as it uses the concept as a political tool against Morocco while ignoring other people’s legitimate aspirations under foreign occupation. She urged the UN to consider all cases of self-determination without selectivity.

In conclusion, Moutchou reiterated that the Sahara is an integral part of Morocco, reflecting centuries of historical, cultural, and geographical ties, and will remain Moroccan forever.