Day 11
Western Sahara
The Security Council adopted two separate resolutions to renew the mandates of the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. The resolution emphasizes the need to achieve a realistic, practical, enduring, and mutually acceptable political solution to the question of Western Sahara based on compromise. It calls on the parties to resume negotiations under the auspices of the UN secretary-general without preconditions and in good faith to achieve a just, last, and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. Pray for the UN-organized referendum on self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. Pray that the people will be liberated through the work of the Holy Spirit (The Bible, Matthew 12:18).
(Source:
https://english.news.cn/20231031/2167bb43d6e548f3b38e6df1fb2349bd/c.html
Western Sahara is an illegally occupied territory. After the Spanish occupation and a three-way tussle for control over the North African country, Morocco annexed southern Western Sahara. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro (POLISARIO) led the government in exile in Western Sahara and the Sahrawi people are recognized by 38 countries as well as the United Nations. They even have an African Union membership. Only 20% of the disputed territory is controlled by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. In 2020, in a significant setback to their independence claims, the United States recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara for normalizing relationships with Israel. Earlier this year, Israel became the second country to recognize the Moroccan claim over the occupied territory. Despite not being listed in the rankings for persecution, the occupied territories do not have religious freedom. Outreach materials in Hassaniya Arabic are available with missionaries in the area. However, with only a handful of Christian Believers, sustainable missionary work in Western Sahara is nearly impossible to carry out.
