Since the country is not widely recognised, the government has asked
Independent Diplomat to serve its interests.[1]
Recognition
As of September 2022, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has been
recognized by 84 UN member states. Of these, 38 have "frozen" or "withdrawn" recognition for a number of reasons. Several states that do not recognise the Sahrawi Republic nonetheless recognize the Polisario Front as the legitimate representative of the population of the Western Sahara, but not as the
government-in-exile for a
sovereign state.[citation needed]
The republic has been a full member of the
African Union (AU), formerly the
Organization of African Unity (OAU), since 1984. Morocco withdrew from the OAU in protest and remained the only African nation not within the AU between
South Africa's admittance in 1994 and (re-)joining the African Union in 2017. The SADR also participates as guest on meetings of the
Non-Aligned Movement[2][3] or the
New Asian–African Strategic Partnership,[4][5] over Moroccan objections to SADR participation.[6] On the other hand, upholding Moroccan "territorial integrity" is favoured by the
Arab League.[7][8]
Besides
Algeria,
Mexico,
Iran,
Venezuela,
Vietnam,
Nigeria, and
South Africa,
India was the major
middle power to have ever recognised SADR and maintained full diplomatic relations, having allowed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic to open an embassy in
New Delhi in 1985. However, India "withdrew" its recognition in 2000.[9]
As with any fluid political situation, diplomatic recognitions of either party's rights are subject to frequent and sometimes unannounced change.
Bilateral relations
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic has, since its proclamation established diplomatic relations with a number of states, mainly in
Africa and
Latin America, which have recognised its independence. In connection with the "freezing", "withdrawing" and resuming of recognition, similar changes have occurred at the level of diplomatic relations. SADR has stable and developed relationships with states such as
Algeria and
South Africa.
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is represented abroad by the Polisario Front, which maintains a network of missions and embassies. Some states that have recognised the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic have elevated the Polisario representation in their country to the status of SADR embassy. The Polisario Front maintains also a network of representations on countries that do not recognized the SADR as a sovereign country, mainly in
Europe, with some of them having relations with the host country governments. Representation of foreign countries to the SADR is performed by embassies located abroad, mainly in
Algiers, due to the
Western Sahara conflict and the settlement of the
Sahrawi refugee camps in south-western Algeria. Strong support of Sahrawi cause from some countries is demonstrated by foreign delegation's visits in
Liberated Territories of Western Sahara.[note 1][note 2]
Current diplomatic relations
A total of 36 states presently maintain diplomatic relations with the SADR. Of these, 28 have continuously maintained relations with SADR without any interruptions. As of 6 August 2018,
Botswana is the most recent nation to have formally established diplomatic relations with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. Eight states have frozen or canceled relations with the SADR in the past, but later resumed them. As of 20 September 2022,
South Sudan is the most recent nation that reestablished diplomatic relations with SADR.
A total of 16 states or more [note 3] maintained official diplomatic relations with the SADR in the past. Their relations with SADR are now suspended, frozen or cancelled. As of 12 March 2020,
Liberia is the most recent nation to formally cancel diplomatic relations with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
AU; Relations are suspended from 17 March 2006.[104]
Further details
On 10 July 2007
Prime Minister of ChadDelwa Kassiré Koumakoye received
Sahrawi Foreign Minister Mohamed Salem Ould Salek. According to the communiqué, dated 17 July 2007 both parties decided to raise their diplomatic relations to ambassadorial level. 20 July was published Chadian objection to ignore protocol in Alwihda article where was written about Prime Minister signature of relations agreement. On the same place of Governmental web was published full text of comminiqué from 17 July 2007. It shows that Chadian objection to Alwihda article was mistakenly interpreted as a denial of diplomatic relations as such.[103] On 11 August 2018 Sahrawi President expressed appreciation for the steadfast position of Chad in supporting the Sahrawi people's right to freedom and independence.[105] In 2020, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chad reiterated that Chad has severed any relationship with SADR since 2006.[106]
AU; Relations were cancelled from 27 December 2002[138] to 1 February 2008[139] and from 16 September 2008[140][141] to 6 March 2014 or shorter.[134] They are cancelled again from 5 May 2017.[142]
Further details
In the past, Malawi had non-resident embassy (
Cairo) in the SADR,[143] later this embassy was not accredited to Sahrawi Republic.[144] On 15 February 2012 SADR minister in charge of Africa was received by foreign minister of Malawi,[145] on 6 March 2014 SADR ambassador presented credentials to president of Malawi.[134] In 2014, Malawi embassy in Cairo was accredited to the SADR again.[137]
AU; Relations were cancelled from 29 March 2011.[165][166] to 21 November 2012.[167] Relations are cancelled again from 25 February 2017.[168]
Further details
According to Zambian sources, Foreign Minister
Kabinga Pande received a bribe from
Morocco for the
MMD's
2011 election campaign and his personal re-election campaign in exchange for the "withdrawal" of recognition of the SADR.[169] In July 2012 it was published, that the
Michael Sata Government is in the process of recognising again the SADR as a sovereign state, as well as restoring the diplomatic relations.[170][171] Early 2020 Zambian opened a consulates general in Laayoune.[172]
Relations with international organisations
The
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic holds either 'member' or 'observer' status in several
international organisations. It participates in the activities of organisations that have formalised its membership, as well as in activities of other organizations as a guest participant. The SADR is usually represented by a Government or national organisations such as the
Sahrawi Trade Union.
SADR participated in all AU-EU Summits. In 2017, SADR participated on 5th Summit in
Abidjan, Morocco's attempts to exclude SADR was thwarted.[184][185]
SADR participated in
COPPPAL meeting in
Managua, September 2006.[193] SADR delegation participated in meeting of COPPPAL and
ICAPP in
Mexico City, October 2012.[194]
Polisario Front made a unilateral declaration under Article 93.3 of Protocol I to apply the four Conventions and Protocol I in the
Western Sahara conflict with
Morocco. Polisario Front is not recognized as a party of Conventions, but declaration was accepted by the depositary of Convenions (
Swiss Federal Council).[209][210]
OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism
^While ambassadors usually presented credentials to
Sahrawi President in Camp Rabuni in
Algeria, Cuban and Namibian ambassadors in March 2018 and Zimbabwean ambassador as third in May 2018 presented credentials to Sahrawi President in
Liberated Territories of the SADR (in
Bir Lehlou or
Tifariti).[10][11]
^In May 2018, delegations represented by the ambassadors of Vietnam, Ecuador, Namibia, Cuba and South Africa and diplomats from Ethiopia, Uganda, Angola and Nigeria attended the festivities commemorating the 45th anniversary of the outbreak of the Sahrawi armed struggle in
Tifariti, Liberated Territories.[12]
^
abThe number of States which maintained diplomatic relations with SADR in the past is likely to be more, but for any relations with States that "withdrew" or "froze" recognition of SADR many years ago we are missing sources.
^
abAccording to international law regarding recognition of states, contained in article 6 of the
Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States: "Recognition of a state simply means that the state recognizes it accepts the personality of the other with all the rights and duties determined by international law. Recognition is unconditional and irrevocable". Therefore, once one state recognizes another as a fellow sovereign state, this recognition cannot be revoked, except when one or the other ceases to exist. One can only revoke the recognition of a government (for example by breaking off diplomatic relations), not of the state itself.[94][95]
^
abThe number of former embassies which existed in the past is likely to be more, but for any embassies to/of states that "withdrew" or "froze" recognition of SADR many years ago we are missing sources.
^The former embassies usually continue to work, but as a unilateral Representative Offices without diplomatic privileges from the host country.
^Thomas Frear: The foreign policy options of a small unrecognised state: the case of Abkhazia, in: Caucasus Survey, Vol. 1 (2014), No. 2, pp. 83-107 (here: p. 97), DOI: 10.1080/23761199.2014.11417293.
^
abPunyapriya Dasgupta (2000-08-12). "Derecognition of Western Sahara". Economic and Political Weekly. "The government of India has decided, suddenly without any explanation, to withdraw the recognition granted in 1985 to the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic"
^
abc"States which recognize the SADR". ARSO - Association de soutien à un référendum libre et régulier au Sahara Occidental. 2009. Retrieved 2012-07-21.
^"Fourth Committee Approves Five Consensus Texts Reaffirming Inalienable Right to Self-Determination and Independence". United Nations General Assembly. Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York. 2011-10-10. Retrieved 2012-03-23. Lisualdo Gaspar, Director of Bilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Timor‑Leste: "In fact, he added, Timor‑Leste had accorded full diplomatic representation to the Embassy of the "Saharawi Republic" in its capital, Dili, in 2010"
^"The Diplomat -Newsletter- issue nº 7"(PDF). Republic of Mauritius - Ministry of Foreign affairs, Regional integration and International trade. July 2011. Archived from
the original(PDF) on 2011-12-15. Retrieved 2012-02-15.
Arvin Boolell: "Mauritius has consistently supported the right to self-determination and
independence of the people of Western Sahara and entertains close diplomatic relations with the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) since 1983."
^Government of Namibia.
"Embassies and High Commissions: R - S". Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from
the original on 2011-07-04. Retrieved 2010-11-20. "Saharawi (Non-Resident)
Embassy of the Arab Democratic Republic of Saharawi"
^Potočný, Miroslav (1996). Mezinárodní právo veřejné, zvláštní část (in Czech). Praha: C.H.Beck. pp. 20–24.
ISBN80-7179-088-5.
^David, Vítězslav; Sladký, Pavel; Zbořil, František (2004). Mezinárodní právo veřejné (in Czech). Praha: Linde. pp. 151–153.
ISBN80-7201-473-0.
^"SADR Recognition reaffirmed". ARSO - Association de soutien à un référendum libre et régulier au Sahara Occidental. 2008-06-17. Retrieved 2010-06-09.
^"Visite d'adieu d'Aziria Abdelkader, Ambassadeur algerien au Burundi" (in French). Républic de Burundi - Portail du Gouvernement. Archived from
the original on 2013-03-13. Retrieved 2012-03-13. "Malgré le gel de la reconnaissance de la République Arabe de Sahraoui Démocratique, les relations entre les deux pays se sont nettement renforcées, a martelé l’Autorité burundaise."
^
ab"Mise au point" (in French). Government of Chad. 20 July 2007. Archived from
the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 26 August 2013."deux parties ont décidé d’élever leurs relations diplomatiques"
^"Communique". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Haiti. 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
^"Annual Report Jan 01, 1986". Ministry of External Affairs Library, New Delhi. Retrieved 2013-03-26. "Following our recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in October 1985, an SADR Embassy has started functioning in New Delhi."
^"Annual Reports 1987-88". Ministry of External Affairs Library, New Delhi. Retrieved 2013-03-26. "With the opening of the Embassy of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in Delhi, India's Ambassador to Algeria was concurrently accredited to the SADR."
^ARR Arab Report and Record. Economic Features, Limited. 1978. p. 59. The SADR and Madagascar had agreed to establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level, the Algiers daily El-Moudjahid reported on 29 January.
^"Recognition freeze". ARSO - Association de soutien à un référendum libre et régulier au Sahara Occidental. 2005-04-06. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
^
ab"Malawi diplomatic missions abroad"(PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperations of Malawi. 2014-12-02. Archived from
the original(PDF) on 2014-12-10. Retrieved 2014-12-08.
^"Western Sahara Weekly News". Association de soutien à un référendum libre et régulier au Sahara Occidental. 2002-12-28. Retrieved 2013-08-26.
^"Ambassadors/High Commissioners-Designate". Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 2014. Archived from
the original on 2014-04-16. Retrieved 2014-04-16. "Sahrawi Arab Republic,
H. E. Mr. Abd Mohamed Yahia, Ambassador"
^Aguirre, Diego; Ramón, Jose (1991). Guerra en el Sáhara. p. 242.
ISBN84-7090-252-0."On June 23 the Sahrawi Republic had applied for its admission to the O.U.A., as because of the successive recognitions of African countries, 26 of 50 members recognized the S.A.D.R. and were favorable to the admission in accordance to article 28 of the O.U.A. Charter, that demanded a simple majority."
^Aguirre, Diego; Ramón, Jose (1991). Guerra en el Sáhara. p. 247.
ISBN84-7090-252-0."on August 31 General Secretary Edem Kodjo had communicated the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic government their admission to the Organization for the African Unity as member nº 51 according to article 28 of the O.A.U. Charter, as 26 states supported the S.A.D.R., representing a simple majority over 50 so it was, then, a mere administrative proceeding competence of the General Secretary"
^"Building a life in the desert"(PDF). Refugee Participation Network. Refugee Studies Program. February 1990. pp. 18–21. Archived from
the original(PDF) on 2010-05-18. Retrieved 2012-11-16."The Sahrawi Red Crescent has observer status with the League of Red Cross Societies and is the formal channel for all external assistance to the Sahrawi people, (full membership is precluded until SADR has gained membership of the United Nations)."
^Aguirre, Diego; Ramón, Jose (1991). Guerra en el Sáhara. p. 176.
ISBN84-7090-252-0."...in April the Sahrawi Red Crescent obtained the status of observer at the IX Congress of the Arab Red Crescent, analog to the International Red Cross, what supposed also the boycott of this reunion by Morocco."