The UN and Western Sahara - Reviving the UN Charter

The UN and Western Sahara – Reviving the UN Charter

The article “Western Sahara – Reviving the UN Charter” by Hans Morten Haugen examines the unresolved status of Western Sahara through the lens of international law. It argues that Spain remains the de jure administrative power under the UN Charter, despite having unilaterally declared otherwise in 1976. The Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination remains unfulfilled, as Morocco continues to occupy the territory and reject any referendum that includes independence. Haugen suggests that placing Western Sahara under a UN trusteeship could provide a legal path toward a free and fair referendum, drawing on precedents like Kosovo and East Timor. The article highlights the failure of current UN efforts and calls for renewed commitment to international law and decolonisation principles.

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