UN staffers exit after Morocco’s demand
Print Edition
DOZENS of United Nations international staffers pulled out of their Western Sahara mission yesterday after Morocco demanded they leave because of remarks by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon about the disputed territory.
Last week Morocco ordered the UN to withdraw 84 international civilian personnel from its peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, MINURSO. It said this was a response to Ban’s “unacceptable” remarks.
Rabat accused Ban earlier this month of no longer being neutral in the Western Sahara dispute when he used the word “occupation” to describe its annexation of the region in 1975, when Morocco took over from colonial power Spain.
The UN said it had three days to remove the 84 civilian staff from Western Sahara.
The controversy over Ban’s comments is Morocco’s worst dispute with the UN since 1991, when the UN brokered a ceasefire to end a war over the Western Sahara and established the mission.
MAP state news agency said a “significant number” of UN staffers had left Laayoune airport on UN aircraft and commercial flights to Las Palmas in Spain.
A Moroccan official source said 73 UN staffers had left, 10 would leave in the afternoon and one would remain for now. The source added the 84th staff member would stay for now because she is pregnant.
The mission now has 242 military personnel, 84 international civilian staff, 157 national staff and 12 volunteers.
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