The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, at its 27th Ordinary Session held in Algiers, from 27 April to 11 May 2000:
Considering the preamble to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which states that the member States reassert their adherence to the human and peoples’ rights and freedoms contained in the declarations, conventions and other instruments adopted by the Organisation of African Unity, the Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations Organisation,
Considering Article 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which stipulates that:
“All peoples shall have right to existence. They shall have the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination. They shall freely determine their political status and shall pursue their economic and social development according to the policy they have freely chosen”,
Recalling UN Security Council Resolution 658 (1990) by which it approved UN Secretary General’s report S/21360 on the situation in the Western Sahara,
Recalling UN Security Council Resolution 690 (1991) in which the UN Security Council approved UN Secretary General’s report S/22464 and decided to set up, under the latter’s authority, the United Nations Mission on the Western Sahara (MINURSO),
Recalling paragraphs 5, 8, 9 and 10 of the general rules dated 8 November 1991 (S/126185, Appendix III) on the organisation of a referendum in the Western Sahara, which stipulated that the Saharawi people’s referendum on self-determination must be free, regularly conducted and free of coercion,
Recalling the Algiers Appeal (adopted at the 35th Summit Meeting of OAU Heads of State and Government from 12 to 14 July 1999) which hails Africa’s action in solidarity towards completion of the decolonisation process on the continent, and specifically implementation of the UNO/OAU peace plan for the Western Sahara,
In view of the delay registered in the process for the referendum on self-determination in the Western Sahara,
Calls for the organisation, within the allotted time, of the Saharawi people’s referendum on self-determination, in a free, fair and regular manner, as desired by the International Community,
Calls for observance of the agreement concluded on 27 December 1997 at Houston between the two parties, Morocco and the Polisario Front, under the aegis of James Baker, special envoy of the UN Secretary General.
Done in Algiers, 11 May 2000.
