At the MEDays Forum, former Cape Verdean Minister of Foreign Affairs Luís Filipe Tavares called on the African Union to draw inspiration from UN Security Council Resolution 2797 and correct the “1982 mistake” by excluding the Polisario from the continental organization.
In the wake of Resolution 2797 adopted by the Security Council, Luís Filipe Tavares is unequivocal: for him, “a political and historical turning point” has just been reached in the Moroccan Sahara issue. According to the former head of Cape Verdean diplomacy, never before had the UN so clearly recognized the Moroccan Autonomy Plan—presented in 2007—as the only credible, realistic, and viable solution to resolve the regional dispute. “This is a decisive moment, not only for Morocco but for Africa,” he stressed.
The African Union must follow the UN’s example
For Luís Filipe Tavares, this major step now obliges the African Union to break its silence:“The African Union must also make a fundamental decision. It must follow Resolution 2797 and formalize the expulsion of the Polisario.”
He recalls that the admission of the Polisario in 1982 was a serious political mistake, contrary to international law:“This entity is not a state. It was the first time a movement or a party was admitted into the African Union. It was an error, and it must be corrected.”
A decision expected by “all of Africa”
The former minister argues for a firm yet calm approach:“We must correct this historical mistake in a peaceful, thoughtful, but determined manner. It is a question of institutional credibility.”
According to him, the African Union cannot “remain motionless” while UN-led negotiations are clearly progressing within the framework of the autonomy plan.For Tavares, the stakes go far beyond diplomacy. They concern regional stability, territorial integrity, and the future role of the African Union as a credible actor for peace:“Morocco’s territorial integrity is essential for regional peace and for the stability of the entire continent.”
He believes that the coming weeks and months will be decisive.
The AU must, he says, assume its responsibilities and align itself with the UN framework, which is now firmly established:“We Africans are waiting for this decision. The AU must put an end to this anomaly.”
The diplomat notes that negotiations on the Sahara will henceforth continue exclusively within the framework of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan. The African Union, he insists, cannot deviate from this new international consensus.
