Just like the United Nations, the US Congress is committed to the non-recognition of the so-called “sovereignty of Morocco over Western Sahara”. This position was reaffirmed by the president of the Congress himself, Senator Patrick Leahy. In a frank response to the claims of the Moroccan occupation, the American institution not only said niet, but also introduced the aid granted to Western Sahara separately from that granted to Morocco. The US Congress is responsible for drafting, discussing and voting on laws. He also exercises power over the federal budget of the United States, trade and defense of the country. Unlike in previous years, American elected officials have not placed Western Sahara under the Morocco clause in the 2022 finance law, signed this week by President Joe Biden. This is a first and this is what explains the manifest refusal of the Congress of all attempts aimed at the violation of international law in Western Sahara. Senator Patrick Leahy said in a statement that aid to Western Sahara was introduced in another article as part of the US Middle East Partnership Initiative (Mepi). More explicitly, the document states the continuation of “support for the political process led by the United Nations” capable of achieving “a just, permanent and acceptable political solution for both parties, namely Morocco and the Polisario Front, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council”. For Senator Leahy, the political situation in Western Sahara is a matter to be resolved between the two parties and not by Congress. This is not the first time that American elected officials have expressed their opposition to the Moroccan occupier. At the very beginning of this month, members of the US Congress called on President Joe Biden not to conclude any arms agreement with Morocco amid fears about the use of these weapons against the Saharawi people. Even more precise, the US senators wished that the “crucial role” played by the United States in the conflict in Western Sahara could allow Saharawis to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination. In their letter, the US congressmen said they were “concerned” about the US policy in Western Sahara, and about the agreements on the sale of weapons to the Kingdom of Morocco, concluded between Washington and Rabat. In their missive, the signatories recall that the former US administration had already informed the US Congress in December 2020 of the sale of US weapons for the amount of one billion dollars to Morocco including four MQ-9B Skyguardian drones and Jdam ammunition. And the signing of this agreement is planned under the current administration. To this end, they call on the Biden administration to “not conclude any agreement with Morocco on heavy or offensive weapons” and specify that “these sales are inappropriate due to the lack of Moroccan guarantees that these weapons are not used against the Saharawi people”.
Translated by hope from https://www.lexpressiondz.com/nationale/le-congres-americain-dit-niet-354701
