Jorge Arreaza Attends Western Sahara Conference in South Africa

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Solidarity Conference with the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic started Monday, in Pretoria, South Africa, with a call for unity to ensure the right to freedom and self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.

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The SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara seeks, among other things, to reaffirm the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and applicable documents of the Organisation of the African Unity (OAU) and African Union (AU) as well as ensure the implementation of the U.N. resolutions and OAU and AU decisions to allow the people of Western Sahara to exercise their right to self-determination.

Hon Lindiwe Sisulu, South African Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that “South Africa is committed to working with SADC for the freedom of Western Sahara people and this must be done in our lifetime.” 

“South Africans will be free only when Sahrawi people and Palestine are free,” she added.

Jorge Arreaza will be part of the International Conference in order to support the right to independence and self-determination of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic. "The Saharawi cause is our cause", he said at the meeting. 

South Africa was one of just three countries on the 15-member council which voted against a U.S. resolution calling for the recognition of Juan Guaido as interim president of Venezuela. 

“South Africa could not support the U.S. resolution as it reflected a serious bias and partiality which goes against South Africa’s Constitution and foreign policy, as well as the letter and spirit of the Charter of the United Nations," said the South African government. 

The meeting was the opportunity for Jorge Arreaza to promote bilateral cooperation, reinforce strategic connection and cement partnerships with different countries such as Seychelles, Angola, and Zimbabwe.