DR ‹ › Last night, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune delivered an extensive address, lasting nearly two hours, to both Houses of Parliament. In his speech, he tackled the contentious Sahara issue, staunchly defending Algeria's support for the Polisario Front. Tebboune justified this backing by emphasizing the importance of adhering to international law, stating, «We have no territorial ambitions. We advocate for respecting the will of the people and ensuring their consultation», he clarified. He further stressed, «When people demand independence, their will must be respected. We are committed to international law, which guarantees the right of peoples to self-determination». He added, «We are not more Sahrawi than the Sahrawis themselves», highlighting that they are «free» to choose the solution that best suits them. Tebboune's stance mirrors previous statements made by Algerian officials. Last November, Algerian ambassador to the United States, Sabri Boukadoum, articulated a similar position, asserting, «Algeria does not speak on behalf of the Polisario. No one can impose a solution on the Sahrawis», during an interview with an American think tank. Notably, in his recent speech, Tebboune refrained from using his usual phrase, «I will not abandon the people of Western Sahara». He also chose not to comment on UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31, which addresses the Western Sahara conflict.
