The Polisario Front thanks Petro for his proposal to invite Western Sahara to the Ibero-American summits

March 29 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), Brahim Gali, thanked the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, for inviting African nations linked to Latin America for different reasons as “observers” to the Ibero-American summits.

“We want to express our full agreement and immediate willingness to correspond to your invitation for the incorporation of the Saharawi nation into the Ibero-American space,” reads a letter sent to the Colombian president.

Gali has also transferred his “most sincere gratitude”, on behalf of the Government and the Saharawi people, for the “permanent commitment” of Petro “with the principle of self-determination and sovereignty of the people” of the RADS, remarking “the courageous and historic act of resumption of diplomatic relations”.

“I want to reiterate our commitment to continue weaving bridges of encounter and alliance, between the Afro, indigenous, Latino and Caribbean peoples,” the letter continues, in which it has shown itself “at full disposal” to “accompany and make Colombia’s dialogue viable and their interests in our African continent”.

Likewise, he has expressed his gratitude “for having evoked, once again and in a timely manner, the unfair situation suffered” by the Saharawi people. “We are a people historically committed to peace and justice who, once again, have suffered the pain of a war of extermination, looting and the usurpation of resources,” she said.

“Your Excellency may be absolutely certain that we will continue to pay attention to every effort that leads our people and the region to peace, to the end of colonialism, of foreign occupation and to self-determination, a desire and purpose for which we will always count on Colombia” , added the president.

Petro began his speech at the Santo Domingo summit by calling to “build bridges with the African continent”, and in particular with the “Saharawi nation”, which he considers the victim of “injustice”.

The Colombian president clarified that it is not a direct message to Spain, but to the conference as a whole, so that “at least” peoples like the Saharawi, who “struggle to have a nation”, be granted the category of observers .

The status proposed by Petro is not new, since the Ibero-American community has already contemplated the figure of associate and consultative observer since 2009. The list is made up of twelve countries, including Morocco, endorsed as an observer in 2010.