Namibia and South Africa have jointly praised the recent ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) regarding Western Sahara. The announcement was made during the Political, Diplomatic, and Legal Committee meeting of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission, held in Swakopmund from October 14-15.
The two nations hailed the ECJ ruling as a significant victory for the people of Western Sahara in their decades-long struggle for self-determination. The ruling aligns with Namibia and South Africa’s longstanding position that “only the people of Western Sahara have the right to decide on the utilization of the resources of Western Sahara in accordance with their right to self-determination.”
The ECJ ruling, delivered on October 4, 2024, found that the European Commission had violated the right to self-determination by including Western Sahara in trade deals with Morocco in 2019. This decision came despite the UN’s designation of Morocco’s presence in the region as an illegal occupation.
Namibia’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr. Peya Mushelenga, and South Africa’s Minister of Justice, Ronald Ozzy Lamola, reaffirmed the nations’ commitment to supporting Western Sahara’s sovereignty. Both emphasized that the Sahrawi people alone have the right to determine the use of their land and resources.
This joint statement underscores Namibia and South Africa’s continued dedication to supporting anti-colonial movements across Africa. Both nations have consistently backed Western Sahara’s independence and reject any economic or political activity in the region that bypasses the will of its people. They argue that exploiting Western Sahara’s natural resources without the consent of its people is a violation of international law—an assertion confirmed by the ECJ’s recent judgment.
The Bi-National Commission meeting provided a platform for both countries to strengthen their diplomatic cooperation on key regional and international issues, with the ECJ ruling serving as a critical point of discussion.