Hach Ahmed Bericalla: ‘The admission of the MSP to the Socialist International is a gesture in favour of peace’

The first secretary of the Sahrawi Movement for Peace (MSP), Hach Ahmed Bericalla, has sent a letter to the general coordinator of the Socialist International, Chantal Kambiwa, expressing his gratitude for the invitation to the Istanbul Council and for the admission of the MSP ‘into the political family with which we share the principles and values of freedom, democracy, social equality and multipartyism’.

After noting that the SI ‘is going through a period of splendour and great influence on the international scene thanks to the impetus and leadership of the president of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and current president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez’, the first secretary of the MSP assured that ‘the prominent role of the Socialist International and its commitment to peace, democracy and the peaceful resolution of conflicts in our world encourages us to have confidence in its contribution to a speedy political settlement of the oldest conflict in Africa’.

He also regretted that ‘for more than half a century, the Sahrawi society has been prevented from accessing and enjoying peace and the values of freedom and democracy, not only because of the outbreak and prolongation of the conflict that still occupies the attention of the international community, but also because of the single-party model imposed by the Polisario Front and its perseverance in the armed struggle, opposing any opening or internal debate’.

Hach Ahmed continued in his letter: ‘The admission of the MSP to the Socialist International is a gesture in favour of peace and democracy that encourages us to continue striving for a peaceful solution to the problem of Western Sahara and to prevent young Sahrawis from continuing to lose their lives in a useless asymmetrical war’.

After stating that the MSP ‘firmly believes that political dialogue is the way forward, not violence,’ the first secretary emphasised that ‘a political solution with international guarantees is still possible,’ stressing that ‘those of us who live and suffer from the war have more than enough reasons to demand and fight for a political settlement, convinced that it is the only thing that can open the doors to the future for the Sahrawi people.’