AU / Nouakchott : DRAFT DECISION ON MOROCCAN SAHARA

The Assembly held in Nouakchott on July 1st and 2nd :

1. Takes note of the report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the issue of Western Sahara [Document Assembly/AU/4(XXXI)];
2. Commends the Chairperson of the Commission for the steps he has taken in pursuance of the mandate entrusted to him by the Assembly of the Union in paragraph 6 of Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.653 (XXIX) adopted at its 29^th Ordinary Session held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 3 to 4 July 2018, including consultations with the Moroccan and Sahrawi authorities, as well as with other stakeholders, including the neighboring countries and the United Nations (UN), and EXPRESSES ITS APPRECIATION to the Chairperson of the Union, President Paul Kagame, for the consultations he undertook on the issue of Western Sahara;
3. Reiterates its deep concern at the continued stalemate in the conflict in Western Sahara and the resulting consequences on the ground and in the region, as well as its impact on the functioning of the AU and the implementation of its priorities;
4. Stresses the need for renewed efforts to overcome the current impasse in the negotiation process and to find a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in line with the relevant AU decisions and UN Security Council resolutions. In this respect, the Assembly APPEALS to the parties to the conflict to urgently resume negotiations without pre-conditions and in good faith;
5. Agrees on the need for the AU to actively contribute to the search for a solution, through renewed support to the efforts led by the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy. In this respect, the Assembly

• Decides to establish an African mechanism comprising the AU Troika, namely the outgoing, the current and the incoming Chairpersons, as well as the Chairperson of the Commission, to extend effective support to the UN-led efforts, by encouraging the parties to demonstrate flexibility, mobilizing as large support as possible for the United Nations led-efforts, and reflecting, in close consultation with the UN, on the substance of the desired compromise. This mechanism shall report regularly on the implementation of its mandate to the Assembly of the Union and, as necessary, to the Peace and Security Council at the level of the Heads of State and Government. The Assembly decides that issue of Western Sahara will only be raised within this framework and at this level;
• Requests the Chairperson of the Commission to initiate the required consultations for the reactivation of the AU Office to the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara in Laayoune, in order to facilitate operational coordination with the UN;
• Appeals to all AU Member States, in particular the neighboring countries, to support the UN-led efforts;

6. Expresses its determination , while efforts are underway to find a solution to the conflict, to ensure that the implementation of the AU agenda, in particular the integration process and related partnerships are not hampered in any way by the prevailing state of affairs with respect to Western Sahara;
7. Requests the Chairperson of the Commission to transmit this decision to the parties, as well as to the UN and other stakeholders, and decides to remain seized of the matter.