Geneva (United Nations Human Rights Council), June 18, 2026 (SPS) – German professor and legal expert, Manfred Hinz, affirmed that the right to self-determination represents a peremptory rule in international law that cannot in any way be bypassed or jumped upon, stressing that the Sahrawi people have already expressed their free political will by organizing their resistance and establishing their state, the Sahrawi Republic.
This came during a prominent intervention delivered by the international expert at a high-level symposium hosted by the Swiss capital, Geneva, on Tuesday, in the presence of a wide diplomatic and human rights presence, devoted to discussing the latest developments in the Sahrawi issue and the prospects for decolonization of the last colony in Africa.
At the beginning of his intervention, Professor Manfred Hinz recalled the established legal literature that guarantees the right of peoples to self-determination and independence, most notably the historic advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 1975, in addition to successive decisions and rulings issued by international courts and organizations, which in their entirety confirm the absence of any sovereignty of Morocco over Western Sahara.
In his reading of the latest diplomatic developments, the lecturer explained that the latest resolution of the UN Security Council, despite its reference to discussing the Moroccan proposal, remains committed to the UN reference; It still explicitly recognizes that any final solution to the conflict must guarantee the Sahrawi people their inalienable right to self-determination, in accordance with the principles and Charter of the United Nations.
In a related context, Professor Haines expressed his deep regret for the opportunistic positions of some countries that announced their support for the Moroccan expansionist approach, describing these positions as “unfortunate” and “dangerous,” stressing that they do not serve at all to respect international law, but rather constitute a blatant threat to the system of international legitimacy and encourage violations of global conventions.
The legal expert concluded his intervention by emphasizing that the Sahrawi people have made their choice and clearly demonstrated their political and national will to the whole world, through the path of their just struggle, their organization of valiant resistance, and the establishment of the institutions of their young state, which represents the most eloquent expression and strongest evidence of their absolute adherence to their legitimate right to freedom and complete independence. (Was)
